Existen muchos tipos de investigación clínica.
- Epidemiology studies improve the understanding of a disease by studying patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease in specific groups of people.
- Behavioral studies improve the understanding of human behavior and how it relates to health and disease.
- Health services studies examine how people access health care providers and health care services, how much care costs, and what happens to patients as a result of the care they receive.
- Community-based participatory research engages the local community in all phases of the research process.
- Genetic studies examine the potential role of genes in different diseases.
- Observational studies observe a group of people for many years, usually without any specific intervention. Estos estudios pueden ayudar a los científicos a comprender la historia natural de una enfermedad o la transición de Bienestar a enfermedad.
- Physiological studies attempt to shed more light on how the human body functions.
- Public health research tries to improve the health and well-being of people from a population-level perspective. Puede combinar uno o más tipos de investigación clínica.
- Clinical trials study the effects of an intervention or treatment on health outcomes.