Scientific quality of clinical research. An analysis of 40 research projects in pharmacology/pharmacotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The scientific quality of research is an important ethical issue. To clarify the quality of research projects in pharmacotherapy/pharmacology, 40 randomly selected research projects in pharmacotherapy/pharmacology submitted to a research ethics committee were reviewed.


RESULTS
Eight of the projects would not have contributed new knowledge nor were they necessary as controls for the results of previous research. Fifteen of the research protocols were of good quality, 15 could be used after revisions, and 10 were unfit for use. Eleven of the research projects were not finished 5 years after they were started. A written report was produced from 26 of the projects. Nine were of good quality and could be accepted for publication in a medical journal, 10 of the reports were in need of revision before publication, and 7 should not be accepted for publication.


CONCLUSIONS
Research in this field ought to be improved, and ways to improve the standard of clinical trials in pharmacotherapy are discussed.
Winther
F O
FO
Ear-Nose-Throat Department, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
Hole
O P
OP
D006801:Humans; D010600:Pharmacology; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards; D011786:Quality Control; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*