Clinical Trials Infrastructure as a Quality Improvement Intervention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

American Journal of Bioethics 16 (6):3-11 (2016)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Mounting evidence suggests that participation in clinical trials confers neither advantage nor disadvantage on those enrolled. Narrow focus on the question of a “trial effect,” however, distracts from a broader mechanism by which patients may benefit from ongoing clinical research. We hypothesize that the existence of clinical trials infrastructure—the organizational culture, systems, and expertise that develop as a product of sustained participation in cooperative clinical trials research—may function as a quality improvement lever, improving the quality of care and outcomes of all patients within an institution or region independent of their individual participation in trials. We further contend that this “infrastructure effect” can yield particular benefits for patients in low- and middle-income countries. The hypothesis of an infrastructure effect as a quality improvement intervention, if correct, justifies enhanced research capacity in LMIC as a pillar of health system development.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 107,099

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Mechanisms for sustainable post-trial access: A perspective.P. Naidoo & V. Rambiritch - 2021 - South African Journal of Bioethics and Law 14 (3):77-78.
Ethics status of clinical research and trials in developing countries.Yuanyuan Liu - 2015 - Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics 25 (4):124-127.

Analytics

Added to PP
2016-05-24

Downloads
45 (#574,246)

6 months
11 (#405,785)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?