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A large proportion of patients who volunteer for clinical trials fail to take
the test medicines as instructed, a new study suggests. Researchers at Johns
Hopkins University and the University of California at Los Angeles gave patients
with respiratory problems metered-dose inhalers equipped with detectors to catch
“dumpers”—patients who empty the inhaler in one go, instead of using it as
prescribed. Patients who were aware of the detector followed instructions,
whereas 30 per cent of those not told about it did not (Chest, vol 118,
p 290). The researchers say this unexpectedly large percentage raises serious
questions about…