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Clinical Trials
The National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) was founded in 1947 to conduct
cancer research programs. The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) defines a clinical
trial as a method consisting of four phases used in research or in evaluation
of an investigational drug or intervention that may have therapeutic
implications for clients.
| Phase I:
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determination of safe drug levels and/or schedules of a new drug
using human subjects. |
| Phase II:
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determination of therapeutic efficacy when applied to clients with various
diagnoses. |
| Phase III:
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once efficacy is established, comparison of the drug to an existing, effective,
standard therapy for the same diagnosis. |
| Phase IV:
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utilization as standard therapy to determine optimal use of the drug with large
client populations.
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(Reference:
Itano, j.K., Taoka, K.N. Eds. Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing, 3rd
Edition, 2004, Saunders, Philadelphia.)
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