SOCRA CCRP Practice Exam

When is Standard of Care (SOC) used instead of a placebo in clinical trials?

1. When a placebo would lead to ethical concerns

2. Only in late-phase trials

3. When the patient prefers not to receive a placebo

4. For all clinical trials

The correct answer is: When a placebo would lead to ethical concerns

Standard of Care (SOC) is used instead of a placebo in clinical trials when using a placebo would raise ethical concerns. While option A is correct, the other options are not entirely accurate. SOC may be used in late-phase trials, but it may also be used in earlier stages depending on the specifics of the trial. Additionally, patient preference may not always be a determining factor in using SOC over a placebo. Finally, not all clinical trials use SOC instead of a placebo; it is specific to certain types of trials and primarily used to ensure the safety and well-being of trial participants.