Conduct of clinical trials in developing countries: a perspective
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide a broad perspective of contextual factors involved in the conduct of clinical trials in developing countries. RECENT FINDINGS: The quantity of research in developing countries continues to be inadequate, with clinical trials comprising a small fraction of the total research output. Most trials done in developing countries tend to be designed in developed countries and led by investigators in those nations. The main challenges in the conduct of trials in developing countries stem from the vulnerability of the populations due to illiteracy, poverty, limited research infrastructure, lack of sufficient numbers of experienced investigators and trained support personnel, and fragmented healthcare system. SUMMARY: There is a need to formulate and conduct trials to test treatments that are context-specific and socially relevant. With careful planning in advance and shared partnership among sponsors, host-country research practitioners, government agencies and the community, many of the challenges facing clinical trial research can be overcome over the medium to long term. This would enable conformity to contemporary guidelines in both letter and spirit and hopefully develop research questions addressing the needs of developing countries.
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Local investigator-initiated trials are more applicable to local populations because they build on local healthcare knowledge.
“These trials are more applicable to local populations because they build on local healthcare knowledge.”
From Barriers for conducting clinical trials in developing countries—A systematic review (2018) · cites this paper as [76]
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Barriers for conducting clinical trials in developing countries—A systematic review
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- Authors
- Devasenapathy, N., Singh, K., & Prabhakaran, D.
- Affiliations
- Centre for Chronic Disease Control (IN)
- Corresponding author
- Prabhakaran, Dorairaj
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Cardiology
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 295-300
- ISSN
- 0268-4705 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2010659747
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Cardiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DigitalGeorgetown (Georgetown University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Fogarty International Center
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Ethics in Clinical Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Global Health and Surgery
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Biotechnology and Related Fields
- Keywords
- clinical trials in developing countries, research infrastructure, research capacity, population vulnerability, poverty, illiteracy, fragmented health care system, international research partnerships, research ethics guidelines, investigator training
- MeSH terms
- Clinical Trials as Topic, Developing Countries, Humans, Informed Consent, Research, Ethics, Research
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