What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study that involves people like you who volunteer to participate and help answer specific health questions or test the effectiveness of a new medical treatment or drug. All trials are conducted under the close supervision of a physician and other research professionals.
The clinical trial process can vary depending on the type of trial being conducted. Some trials compare how a new treatment or drug compares to existing treatments, while other studies measure the effectiveness and/or safety of a new treatment. Typically, participants are assigned to one of several treatment groups and the results from each group are compared to each other. The level of study related medical care will be the same across all groups, however some clinical trials will require more tests and clinic visits than others. The clinical trial process is the safest and most effective way to find new treatments and methods to improve health.
What can I expect as a participant in a clinical trial?
During the screening process, research staff will provide and review an informed consent document that provides a detailed description of the clinical trial and will outline any associated benefits and risks. After answering any questions, a staff member or physician will review the participant’s medical history and conduct a brief physical examination to determine study eligibility.
Once a participant is enrolled into a study, they will need to follow the study visit and treatment schedule that will be provided. It is important for a participant to stay committed to the study throughout its course, to adhere to all scheduled visits, and to report any changes or problems.
Any personal health information collected during the trial will be kept confidential. Upon written request, the results from a study can be forwarded to the participant’s primary care physician. In some instances, the overall results from a study may be published, but the names and personal information of participants will never be used.
All information in the “what is a clinical trial” section is taken from
Sources: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov and http://www.cc.nih.gov .
A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study that involves people like you who volunteer to participate and help answer specific health questions or test the effectiveness of a new medical treatment or drug. All trials are conducted under the close supervision of a physician and other research professionals.
The clinical trial process can vary depending on the type of trial being conducted. Some trials compare how a new treatment or drug compares to existing treatments, while other studies measure the effectiveness and/or safety of a new treatment. Typically, participants are assigned to one of several treatment groups and the results from each group are compared to each other. The level of study related medical care will be the same across all groups, however some clinical trials will require more tests and clinic visits than others. The clinical trial process is the safest and most effective way to find new treatments and methods to improve health.
What can I expect as a participant in a clinical trial?
During the screening process, research staff will provide and review an informed consent document that provides a detailed description of the clinical trial and will outline any associated benefits and risks. After answering any questions, a staff member or physician will review the participant’s medical history and conduct a brief physical examination to determine study eligibility.
Once a participant is enrolled into a study, they will need to follow the study visit and treatment schedule that will be provided. It is important for a participant to stay committed to the study throughout its course, to adhere to all scheduled visits, and to report any changes or problems.
Any personal health information collected during the trial will be kept confidential. Upon written request, the results from a study can be forwarded to the participant’s primary care physician. In some instances, the overall results from a study may be published, but the names and personal information of participants will never be used.
All information in the “what is a clinical trial” section is taken from
Sources: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov and http://www.cc.nih.gov .
