醫(yī)學(xué)的最大進(jìn)展之一,是20世紀(jì)50 年代中期采用的一種新研究技術(shù),叫做“臨床對(duì)照試驗(yàn)”,用來(lái)確定新藥和其他治療是否安全有效。
One of the greatest advances in medicine was the introduction of a new research technique in the mid-1950s called the controlled clinical trial, which is used to determine if new drugs and other treatments are safe and effective.
在臨床對(duì)照試驗(yàn)中,一組病人,即治療組,接受新藥或新的療法。另一組病人,即對(duì)照組,服用無(wú)藥性的丸劑(安慰劑),或接受標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的治療。
In the controlled clinical trial, one group of patients, the treatment group, receives the new drug or new treatment. Another group, the control group, is given an inactive pill (a placebo) or the best standard treatment.
研究人員然后對(duì)經(jīng)過一個(gè)時(shí)期治療的兩組病人作比較,用嚴(yán)格的統(tǒng)計(jì)技術(shù)對(duì)收集的數(shù)據(jù)做分析,以確定新的療法是否比標(biāo)準(zhǔn)療法或不治療更安全有效。
Researchers then compare the two groups after a period of treatment and analyze the data collected through rigorous statistical techniques to determine whether the new treatment is safer and more effective than standard therapy or no treatment.
多數(shù)臨床試驗(yàn)在單盲或雙盲基礎(chǔ)上進(jìn)行。在單盲試驗(yàn)中,病人不知道他們接受的是新藥還是安慰劑。在雙盲試驗(yàn)中,病人和醫(yī)生都不知道哪位病人在接受新的治療。
Most clinical trials are conducted on a blind or double-blind basis. In a blind trial, patients do not know whether they receive the new drug or a placebo. In a double-blind trial, neither patients nor physicians know who is receiving the new treatment.
這一保密是重要的,因?yàn)椴∪巳绻雷约涸谟靡环N強(qiáng)力的新藥,會(huì)期望感到病情好轉(zhuǎn),并向醫(yī)生報(bào)告。
This secrecy is important because patients who know they are taking a powerful new drug may expect to feel better and report improvement to doctors.
研究人員如果知道一個(gè)病人在接受試驗(yàn)的新療法,也可能會(huì)看到病人情況改善,而實(shí)際上并無(wú)改善。
Researchers who know that a patient is receiving the test treatment may also see improvements that really do not exist.
責(zé)任編輯:admin