Wallendal, Caroline
(2024)
Balancing Benefits and Complexities of Pediatric Clinical Research.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Pediatric clinical research and clinical trials are pivotal in advancing medical knowledge to improve health outcomes for children with complex medical needs. However, there are many challenges associated with conducting research in pediatric and rare disease populations. These challenges require careful planning and strategic solutions by all individuals involved in the research process. Despite the challenges, there are also numerous benefits for patients involved; researchers must find the optimal balance to achieve the desired health outcomes in such a vulnerable population. To gain a more thorough understanding of this process interviews were conducted with healthcare providers in clinical research to gather qualitative in-depth information about their experiences. This data was compared to benefits and challenges of pediatric research that was documented in existing literature.
Results showed that some of the top challenges included recruiting patients that perfectly fit the eligibility criteria for each study, working with extremely strict protocols, and ensuring patient compliance with the research. There are also many health disparities such as underrepresentation of minority groups, scheduling complications due to parental work obligations, and a lack of reliable medical resources in rural areas. Individuals eligible to participate in research benefit by being connected with top-rated specialists, experiencing empowerment through sharing personal experiences, staying informed about the latest available treatments, and improving their quality of life. Additionally, people working in the field of clinical research enjoy the direct connection with patients and contributing to the future success of healthcare.
Understanding the benefits and challenges of pediatric clinical trials is significant to the field of public health as the aim is to safely advance evidence-based medicine, unravel disease mechanisms fundamental for the development of new treatments, and promote health equity to ensure comprehensive representation and care for patients.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Wallendal, Caroline | cew63@pitt.edu | cew63 | |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Henderson, Nadene | nadene.henderson@chp.edu | ndh3 | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Hernandez, Wenndy | weh119@pitt.edu | weh119 | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Buchanich, Jeanine | jeanine@pitt.edu | jeanine | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
21 May 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Submission Date: |
19 April 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
47 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Human Genetics |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
clinical research, clinical trials, pediatrics |
| Date Deposited: |
21 May 2024 13:56 |
| Last Modified: |
21 May 2024 13:56 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46091 |
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