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Biomedical subjects

R L Marlin

Publications and source records attributed to R L Marlin.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Methods to maximize retention in weight loss studies.

OBJECTIVE: Dropouts from clinical trials decrease quality and increase costs. Free participation, paid participation, and contingency contracting are three study retention methods. Contingency contracting, or depositing a fee to be refunded contingent upon attendance in a clinical trial, has been reported to decrease dropouts without affecting weight loss. These three methods of retention were compared with a commercial weight loss clinic's practice of charging nonrefundable fees. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Dropouts were compared in two studies testing mazindol, with one study using free care and the other using contingency contracting; two studies testing phenylpropanolamine, one using free care and the other using contingency contracting; and in studies with phenylpropanolamine on file with Thompson Medical Company using free care, paid participation, and contingency contracting. RESULTS: The dropout rate was 50% at 8 weeks in a trial of mazindol with free care vs. 7% for contingency contracting (p<0.001). The two phenylpropanolamine studies gave the same weight losses, but the dropouts were 37% at 8 weeks for free care vs. 11% for contingency contracting (p<0.001). The studies of phenylpropanolamine on file at the Thompson Medical Company had 28% dropouts at 8 weeks using free care vs. 19% for paid participation (p<0.001), and 11% for contingency contracting (p<0.005). Dropouts with contingency contracting (11%) were not different from the commercial weight loss program (13%). DISCUSSION: Contingency contracting can decrease dropouts, improve quality, and decrease costs without affecting weight loss in clinical trials for obesity.

Appetite Depressants↗
PubMed1984

A comprehensive on-line collection system.

In the normal conduct of a clinical drug trial, a considerable time lag exists between the point when drug response data are collected, usually by means of a standard written case report form completed at the time of an individual patient visit, and the time when it is entered into the computer system (and thereafter available for assessment) in the sponsor 's facility. This lag period may range from a matter of days to one or several months. Previous efforts to reduce this time span by providing electronic data entry capability within the clinical investigator's office have generally proven unsatisfactory for reasons of complexity and relative inaccuracy. A recently-developed potential solution to this entire problem will be described. It involves the provision of a microcomputer equipped with sophisticated customized data entry software that offers a means to substantially reduce this long-standing source of delays in the completion of clinical drug trials.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed1984

A pilot study of medication and group therapy for obesity in a group of physicians.

This pilot study evaluated group therapy and the appetite suppressant activity of phenylpropanolamine in a group of juvenile-onset obese physicians. In spite of their educational level and their medical sophistication, they were not previously successfully motivated to lose weight. Twelve obese but otherwise healthy physicians participated in a program using phenylpropanolamine one or two times per day and attending weekly group therapy that focused on weight reduction, dietary compliance, physical appearance, and psychodynamics of obesity. Those who continued participation in both the medication and group discussions showed significant weight loss, an average of 23.3 pounds at the end of 12 weeks, 33.2 pounds at 22 weeks and continued weight loss maintenance for up to two years.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Three controlled trials of weight loss with phenylpropanolamine.

A multisite double-blind study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a phenylpropanolamine-caffeine combination in achieving weight loss. Two-hundred and one obese adult patients were divided into three separate groups in which phenylpropanolamine/caffeine was compared with either placebo (6 weeks), mazindol (6 weeks), or diethylpropion (8 weeks). In these clinical trials, phenylpropanolamine/caffeine proved to be as effective as mazindol and diethylpropion and significantly more effective than placebo in achieving weight loss. Overall, phenylpropanolamine/caffeine had fewer side effects than mazindol and diethylpropion. Its use as an effective anorectic agent in the treatment of obesity is reviewed.

Adolescent↗