The spelling of "Clinical Research" can seem confusing due to the "i" in "clinical" and the "ea" in "research." However, the word can be correctly spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as follows: /ˈklɪnɪkəl/ /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/. This means that the first syllable of "clinical" is pronounced as "klĭn-i-kəl" while "research" is pronounced as "ri-sur-ch." Understanding the IPA can make the spelling of words easier to remember and pronounce accurately.
Clinical research refers to scientific investigations focused on studying human health, diseases, and the effectiveness and safety of medical treatments. It is a systematic and structured process that involves conducting experiments, trials, and observations on human subjects to generate data and evidence for medical advancements, improved patient care, and better understanding of health-related phenomena.
The primary goal of clinical research is to assess the efficacy and safety of new drugs, medical devices, treatment procedures, and interventions, as well as to gain insights into disease mechanisms and patient experiences. This research is typically carried out by professionals from various disciplines, including medical doctors, scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and statisticians, who collaborate to design, conduct, and analyze clinical trials.
Clinical research often follows a predefined protocol or research plan, which outlines the objectives, methods, and procedures to be employed during the study. Various types of clinical studies are conducted, including observational studies that observe patients in their natural settings, controlled clinical trials that compare different treatments or interventions, and epidemiological studies that investigate patterns and determinants of diseases in populations.
The data collected from clinical research provide valuable evidence-based information, enabling medical professionals to make informed decisions about new therapies and interventions. Additionally, clinical research helps advance medical knowledge, improve patient outcomes, and shape healthcare policies and guidelines.
The word "clinical" originated from the Latin word "clinicus", which means "bedside" or "pertaining to a bed". It was derived from the Greek word "klinē", meaning "bed". In Latin, "clinicalis" referred to something related to the sickbed or a patient's bed.
The term "research" ultimately comes from the Old French word "rechercher", which means "to seek or to search for". It further evolved from the Latin word "re-" meaning "again" and "cercare" meaning "to search".
Therefore, the word "clinical research" is derived from combining the Latin term "clinicalis" with the Old French/Latin term "research", describing the process of seeking or searching for knowledge and conducting studies pertaining to patients or at the patient's bedside.