There are so many clinical trials done for people with MS that it would be impossible to keep track of and read all of them. Instead, you need a way to find the trials that are most important and useful to you. Here are some tips:
- First, focus on what you need to know. Try to think in terms of a question that you want answered. For example, you may want to know if there are any new treatments available for MS. In this case, you can narrow things down by asking if there are any new treatments for the type of MS that you have (for example, relapsing-remitting). Or, you may want to know whether you might benefit from a new treatment that you have heard about. In this case, you may want to ask, "Will this new treatment make me feel less tired?" or "Will this new treatment improve my ability to function and carry out my normal daily activities?"
- The next step is to find trials that will help you answer your question. There are a few different ways to approach this. You could ask your doctor or pharmacist whether there are any new trials that might help answer the question you have in mind. You could use a website that reports on clinical trials in multiple sclerosis, such as www.mssociety.ca. Or you could use a searchable bibliographic database, such as PubMed, available free of charge at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/. Your local librarian or health professional may be able to give you tips on how to search PubMed.
You may find a large number of trials that answer your question. In this case, you will need to find the most relevant, best-quality clinical trials. Narrow down the list by choosing only:
- the most recently published trials
- randomized controlled trials or review articles
- trials done in humans (not animals)
- trials done in a language that you are able to read
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2023. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/MS-Understanding-Clinical-Trials