Clinical Trials in Rheumatology.

Clinical trials evaluate the benefits and harms of medical interventions with the ultimate goal of establishing an evidence-based regimen that contributes to clinical decision making. Physicians benefit greatly from clinical research because it provides a greater understanding of epidemiology and health outcomes, and patients are given opportunities to participate in such trials. In this review, we discuss the challenges of conducting clinical trials investigating rheumatic diseases, including that of recruitment, finding the right trial, designing a budget, and performing a study in a timely manner. If done right, clinical investigation can be particularly rewarding both intellectually and financially.