IQVIA Mock Interview
Master 30 IQVIA interview questions covering clinical research, data analytics, and healthcare innovation.
Question 20 of 30
How would you explain what a placebo is and why it is used if a trial participant asks you to explain it?
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Kevin Downey has an extensive background in business management, recruiting, branding and marketing. He's volunteered his career coaching services at job fairs, lecturing on interview techniques and crafting winning resumes and cover letters.
The interviewer will use this question to test your professional knowledge and communication skills. In this setting, a patient is commonly apprehensive and might seek to calm themselves by asking a lot of questions. Explain how you would communicate this point to your participants.
Kimberly is a freelance writer and editor with a decade of experience in the education field, including her time as a pre-kindergarten teacher.
"I would explain to the participant that a placebo is an inactive pill, liquid, or powder with no treatment value. I will further explain that in a placebo-controlled trial, some portion of the participants will receive a placebo instead of an active drug or experimental treatment to assess the experimental treatment's effectiveness and safety versus no treatment at all."
Kimberly is a freelance writer and editor with a decade of experience in the education field, including her time as a pre-kindergarten teacher.
"I will tell the participant that a placebo is a liquid, powder, or pill that has no treatment value used in clinical trials to help determine the difference between the active drug or experiment compared to no treatment at all."
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Anonymous Answer
A dummy drug with no clinical benefit (eg a sugar pill). A comparator to assess the true efficacy of the proposed treatment/drug under investigation.
Marcie's Feedback
Nice! It definitely sounds like you understand what a placebo is. Consider also discussing how you would approach this topic with a trial participant. Explain your demeanor and the tone of voice you would use so they felt reassured and informed. If you've ever done this before, talk about that as well. Good job!
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