What is a Clinical Trial?

A clinical trial evaluates a specific intervention according to a research protocol created by investigators. These interventions may be products such as drugs or devices, procedures, or changes to participants’ behavior (for example, diet). Clinical trials compare a new medical approach to a standard approach that is already available or to a placebo. When a new product or approach is being studied, it is not usually known whether it will be helpful, harmful, or have a no different effect than available alternatives. The investigators determine the safety and efficacy of the intervention by measuring certain outcomes in the participants.