[uvware]

I go to a teaching hospital where they conduct a lot of research studies. I started going to these types of medical facitlities because I find that teaching hospitals have doctors that are more willing to think out of the box.

Currently, my doctor due to my condition put me in one of his research studies where I'm taking this newer drug. I decided that I wanted to skip the study for a couple of months (and not take the medicine) to see if I can find a more holistic approach.

I'm finding that he is really "encouraging me" to continue taking the drugs. Now I can't tell if it's because he needs me in his study or if he thinks that my medical situation needs for me to take the drugs.

I'm curious to know how medical research studies work? Do doctors get involved and do they have to keep a certain number of participants for the study to be published? Do they get kick backs from the drug companies? Do they get paid more money if they have more of these studies going on?

If you know of anything please share the information.

Thank you!

[rwinterton]

Studies require participants in order to get statistically valid results. If you drop out, the results are less likely to be valid.

Kickbacks are almost never paid. They don't get more money if they have a lot of studies going on. However, if they manage to find a drug that works, they get a lot of scientific prestige for figuring out what drug works. It's also possible that the drug companies might compensate them in some way for participating.

Holistic approaches are non-scientific and most holistic approaches are little more than the placebo effect.