Clinical Trials Knowledge Center – Articles, FAQ & Glossary

Welcome to the Knowledge Center, designed to give you immediate access to timely and relevant information about clinical trials. Here, you will find frequently asked questions, podcasts, a glossary of clinical trial terms, clinical trial articles, and much more – all to keep you informed and aware.

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Clinical Trials Frequently Asked Questions

Clinical Trial Glossary

Glossary results: R

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RANDOMIZATION:

A method based on chance by which study participants are assigned to a treatment group. Randomization minimizes the differences among groups by equally distributing people with particular characteristics among all the trial arms. The researchers do not know which treatment is better. From what is known at the time, any one of the treatments chosen could be of benefit to the participant.

RANDOMIZED TRIAL:

A study in which participants are randomly (i.e., by chance) assigned to one of two or more treatment arms of a clinical trial. Occasionally placebos are utilized.

RECRUITING:

The period during which a trial is attempting to identify and enroll participants. Recruitment activities can include advertising and other ways of soliciting interest from possible participants.

RECRUITMENT STATUS:

Indicates the current stage of a trial, whether it is planned, ongoing or completed. Possible values include:

Not yet recruiting: participants are not yet being recruited or enrolled
Recruiting: participants are currently being recruited and enrolled
Enrolling by invitation: participants are being (or will be) selected from a predetermined population
Active, not recruiting: study is ongoing (i.e., patients are being treated or examined), but enrollment has completed
Completed: the study has concluded normally; participants are no longer being examined or treated (i.e., last patient's last visit has occurred)
Suspended: recruiting or enrolling participants has halted prematurely but potentially will resume
Terminated: recruiting or enrolling participants has halted prematurely and will not resume; participants are no longer being examined or treated
Withdrawn: study halted prematurely, prior to enrollment of first participant

RISK-BENEFIT RATIO:

The risk to individual participants versus the potential benefits. The risk/benefit ratio may differ depending on the condition being treated.

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Information included in the Glossary is from Clinicaltrials.gov, which uses content from AIDSinfo, CenterWatch, Inc., ECRI, Eli Lilly and Company, MediStudy.com, Inc. and National Cancer Institute.