What is a Clinical Series?

A clinical series is a research study that follows patients who are offered similar types of treatment. These studies can be applied in a wide range of ways, from following up on the safety of medications that have been approved for use in the general population to collecting data that will be used to improve approaches to diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Clinical series fall under a type of research known as observational studies, because these studies involve observing a known population and using a variety of metrics to record and measure observations.

In some cases, a clinical series is retrospective. Researchers seek out patients with clearly defined conditions who were given similar treatment, obtain case histories on each patient, and compare this information after the fact. Each individual case study will be highly detailed, containing medical records that include medical imaging studies, outcomes of testing, and other information. A retrospective series can provide a look-back over an approach to treatment, outcomes in a given treatment facility, and other matters of interest.

Prospective clinical series, on the other hand, establish a cohort of patients who are starting treatment and follow them as they progress. Such studies can last weeks, months, or years, depending on what is being studied. Patients who participate in such studies may be offered compensation and other benefits such as ready access to test results and other data collected by the researchers. A prospective study provides rolling real time results on patients actively in treatment and may include patients at different stages of treatment for the purpose of comparison.

The clinical series can be a powerful research tool, but it does have some drawbacks. Such studies are prone to selection bias on the basis of which patients can be readily contacted to gain consent and access to records. Such studies are also not controlled like experiments and as a result, it is more challenging to make generalizations on the basis of results. Conclusions must be carefully structured with consideration of all the factors involved, including controlling for factors that might influence treatment outcomes, like how healthy patients were at the start of the study.

People who are asked to participate in a clinical series may want to compile a list of questions to ask before consenting. It is wise to ask about the time commitment involved, what kind of access to private records will be available to the researchers, any associated risks, if it is possible to drop out of the study, and how the information will be used. Potential research subjects are encouraged to ask questions so they can make an informed decision about participation.