Operational and resource management of an RCT: some of the pitfalls and lessons learned

Nurses frequently fulfil important functions within a research team involve d in clinical trials. This paper describes the challenges inherent in devel oping and managing a large clinical trial involving the evaluation of homoe opathy and asthma. Teamwork, a clear and comprehensive understanding of the research protocol, marketing the project, and the ability to manage human resources within bo th a primary and secondary care environment are all essential aspects of cl inical research. Our experience in establishing and managing this project has suggested to u s that a high standard of clinical research demands an open approach to pro blem-solving as well as the realization that efficient research is as much about the management of people as it is about scientific rigour.