What does "subject drop-out" refer to in clinical trials?

"Subject drop-out" specifically refers to participants who withdraw from a clinical trial before it has been completed. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as personal choice, adverse effects, lack of efficacy of the treatment, logistical issues, or other personal circumstances that lead a participant to discontinue their involvement. Drop-out rates can significantly impact the integrity of the trial data, as they may introduce bias and affect the statistical power of the study.

Understanding subject drop-out is crucial for researchers as it highlights the challenges of maintaining participant retention and the need for strategies to minimize withdrawals. It's important for clinical trials to track and report on drop-out rates to assess the robustness of their findings and ensure that all relevant factors affecting outcomes are accounted for during data analysis.