Please note, this course is not provided or endorsed by the UKTMN, but has been deemed relevant to trial management, and may be of interest to our members.
The Introduction to Clinical Trials course offers a comprehensive and practical introduction to the design and conduct of randomised clinical trials (RCTs). Through a combination of flexible online learning and interactive tutor-led sessions, students will gain an understanding of the key principles that underpin high-quality clinical research and the evaluation of healthcare interventions. It is ideal for healthcare professionals, researchers, trial staff, statisticians, clinicians, and anyone involved in the planning, delivery, analysis, or review of clinical research.
The course is divided into two modules:
Module 1: Trial Design
- Why clinical trials are needed
- Key principles of trial design
- Randomisation and control groups
- Minimising bias and improving trial quality
- Choosing appropriate outcomes and endpoints
Module 2: Trial Conduct
- Protocol development
- Trial oversight and management
- Participant recruitment and retention
- Data collection and monitoring
- Analysis and interpretation of trial findings
- Reporting and dissemination of results
The course focuses primarily on large, multicentre randomised clinical trials, including both drug trials and trials of complex interventions. It does not cover non-randomised studies, observational research designs, or trials evaluating diagnostic tests.
