Multicentre clinical trials: the value of collaboration

02/09/2024

Multicentre studies arise from the need to improve our understanding of global health problems. These studies are conducted across multiple medical institutions, following a single protocol and operating under a coordinated system.

In multicentre studies, the collaboration of several centres, whether national or international, is essential because a single centre often cannot recruit enough patients to address the research question with reliable results. This collaborative approach allows for a larger patient pool to be gathered in less time and enhances the study's external validity, making it possible to generalize the results to the broader population.

The main advantages of multicentre studies include the ability to recruit a large number of patients in less time, improved external validity, higher quality and scientific relevance, and greater social impact.

However, there are some disadvantages. These studies require more planning time, are more complex, and can be influenced by geographical, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. As a result, they demand greater methodological rigor in the design approach and stricter quality control in data collection.

Additionally, effective communication, collaboration, and task standardization among participating institutions and individuals are essential. In recent years, technological advances have facilitated the execution of these projects by overcoming distance barriers and improving communication, enabling more coordinated research efforts.

Finally, it is important to emphasize that the collaborative spirit of the work teams is essential. This spirit requires both professional and human qualities to successfully develop a clinical project that produces high-quality scientific evidence.

The Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre has a long history of participating in multicentre studies, which have significantly improved the quality of life for many patients.

Raquel Larena Moreira, Clinical Research Coordinator at the Barraquer Ophthalmology Centre