Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9139

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Publication type: Journal Article

Gerrard L.
Clinical trials workload in a teaching (university) hospital
ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting 1996 Dec; 31:

Abstract:

The clinical trial work load at St. George’s Hospital was reviewed. Data were abstracted from pharmacy clinical trial records and ethic committee submissions. There were 78 active trials, responsible for an average of 142 prescriptions monthly. The most common source of support was the pharmaceutical industry (85%). Fifty three (68%) Of studies were double blind. Sixty two (79%) were placebo controlled and 29 (37%) compared the study drug with at least one other agent. Half the studies were generated by Medicine, Surgery, 25%, and Cardiothoracic, 14%. Thirty nine studies commenced in the first 5 months of the year; 28 were completed with a further 28 awaiting ethics approval and/or initiation date. Clinical trials represent a significant workload for a teaching hospital pharmacy in terms of both dispensing and setting up.