Challenges to conducting multicenter clinical research: ten points to consider

Abstract

Nursing care provided to patients and their families should be based on strong scientific evidence. In the quantitative research paradigm, the highest level of evidence is derived from conclusive randomized controlled clinical trials. Multicenter clinical research allows the accrual of sufficient numbers of diverse participants in a shorter period of time and improves the generalizability of the study findings. Clinical research is inherently complex; the complexity exponentially increases when conducting multicenter clinical trials. Investigators are challenged to maintain the internal validity of the study and the sustained commitment and collaboration of numerous disciplines over the study period. This article presents 10 essential points to consider when conducting multicenter clinical research.