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Choosing to participate in a clinical trial is an important personal decision. The following frequently asked questions provide detailed information about clinical trials. In addition, it is often helpful to talk to a physician, family members, or friends about deciding to join a trial. After identifying some trial options, the next step is to contact the study research staff and ask questions about specific trials. What is a clinical trial?A clinical trial is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the safest and most reliable way to find treatments that work in people and ways to improve health. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled conditions. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings. Why participate in a clinical trial?Participants in clinical trials gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available and help others by contributing to medical research. Who can participate in a clinical trial?All clinical trials have guidelines about who can participate. Using inclusion/exclusion criteria is an important principle of medical research that helps to produce reliable results. The factors that allow someone to participate in a clinical trial are called "inclusion criteria" and those that disallow someone from participating are called "exclusion criteria." These criteria are based on such factors as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions. Before joining a clinical trial, a participant must qualify for the study. Some research studies seek participants with illnesses or conditions to be studied in the clinical trial, while others need healthy participants. It is important to note that inclusion and exclusion criteria are not used to reject people personally. Instead, the criteria are used to identify appropriate participants and keep them safe. The criteria help ensure that researchers will be able to answer the questions they plan to study. What happens during a clinical trial?The clinical trial process depends on the kind of trial being conducted (See What are the different types of clinical trials?) The clinical trial team includes doctors and nurses as well as social workers and other healthcare professionals. They check the health of the participant at the beginning of the trial, give specific instructions for participating in the trial, monitor the participant carefully during the trial, and stay in touch after the trial is completed. Some clinical trials involve more tests and doctor visits than the participant would normally have for an illness or condition. For all types of trials, the participant works with a research team. Clinical trial participation requires that the protocol is carefully followed and is most successful when there is frequent contact with the research staff. What is informed consent?Informed consent is the process of learning the key facts about a clinical trial before deciding whether or not to participate. It is also a continuing process throughout the study to provide information for participants. To help someone decide whether or not to participate, the doctors and nurses involved in the trial explain the details of the study. If the participant's native language is not English, translation assistance must be provided. Then the research team provides an informed consent document that includes details about the study, such as its purpose, duration, required procedures, and key contacts. Risks and potential benefits are explained in the informed consent document. The participant then decides whether or not to sign the document. Informed consent is not a contract, and the participant may withdraw from the trial at any time. What are the benefits and risks of participating in a clinical trial?Benefits
Risks
What are side effects and adverse reactions?Side effects are any undesired actions or effects of the experimental drug or treatment. They may be mild (such as a mild headache) or life threatening (such as a serious allergic reaction or damage to a vital organ). Experimental treatments must be evaluated for both immediate and long-term side effects. How is the safety of the participant protected?The ethical and legal codes that govern medical practice also apply to clinical trials. In addition, clinical research is federally regulated to provide safeguards to protect the participants. Clinical trial protocols must be reviewed before they are started by independent experts on Institutional Review Boards who determine if the trial is safe and ethical. Once trials are started, they are monitored by other independent experts on a Data Safety Monitoring Board to be certain that it is safe to continue. The trial follows a carefully controlled protocol (a study plan that details what researchers will do in the study). As a clinical trial progresses, researchers report the results of the trial at scientific meetings, to medical journals, and to various government agencies. Individual participants' names will remain secret and will not be mentioned in these reports (See Confidentiality Regarding Trial Participants). What should people consider before participating in a trial?People should know as much as possible about the clinical trial and feel comfortable asking the members of the healthcare team questions about it, the care expected while in a trial, and the cost of the trial for the participant. The following questions might be helpful for the participant to discuss with the health care team. Some of the answers to these questions are found in the informed consent document.
What kind of preparation should a potential participant make for the meeting with the research coordinator or doctor?
Every clinical trial in the U.S. must be approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to make sure the risks are as low as possible and are worth any potential benefits. An IRB is an independent committee of physicians, statisticians, community advocates, and others that ensures that a clinical trial is ethical and the rights of study participants are protected. All institutions that conduct or support biomedical research involving people must, by federal regulation, have an IRB that initially approves and periodically reviews the research. Does a participant continue to work with a primary healthcare provider while in a trial?Yes. Most clinical trials provide short-term treatments related to a designated illness or condition, but do not provide extended or complete primary health care. In addition, by having the healthcare provider work with the research team, the participant can ensure that other medications or treatments will not conflict with the protocol. Can a participant leave a clinical trial after it has begun?Yes. A participant can leave a clinical trial, at any time. When withdrawing from the trial, the participant should let the research team know about it, and the reasons for leaving the study. Where do the ideas for trials come from?Ideas for clinical trials usually come from researchers. After researchers test new therapies or procedures in the laboratory and in animal studies, the experimental treatments with the most promising laboratory results are moved into clinical trials. During a trial, more and more information is gained about a experimental treatment, its risks and how well it may or may not work. Who sponsors clinical trials?Clinical trials are usually sponsored by governmental agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, by medical schools, or by drug companies. Trials can take place in a variety of locations, such as hospitals, universities, doctors' offices, or community clinics. What is a protocol?A protocol is a study plan on which all clinical trials are based. The plan is carefully designed to safeguard the health of the participants as well as answer specific research questions. A protocol describes what types of people may participate in the trial; the schedule of tests, procedures, medications, and dosages; and the length of the study. While in a clinical trial, participants following a protocol are seen regularly by the research staff to monitor their health and to determine the safety and effectiveness of their treatment. What is a placebo?A placebo is an inactive pill, liquid, or powder that has no treatment value. In clinical trials, experimental treatments are often compared with placebos to assess the experimental treatment's effectiveness. In some studies, the participants in the control group will receive a placebo instead of an active drug or experimental treatment. What is a control or control group?A control is the standard by which experimental observations are evaluated. In many clinical trials, one group of patients will be given an experimental drug or treatment, while the control group is given either a standard treatment for the illness or a placebo. What are the different types of clinical trials?Treatment trials test experimental treatments, new combinations of drugs, or new approaches to surgery or radiation therapy. Prevention trials look for better ways to prevent disease in people who have never had the disease or to prevent a disease from returning. These approaches may include medicines, vitamins, vaccines, minerals, or lifestyle changes. Diagnostic trials are conducted to find better tests or procedures for diagnosing a particular disease or condition. Screening trials test the best way to detect certain diseases or health conditions. Quality of Life trials (or Supportive Care trials) explore ways to improve comfort and the quality of life for individuals with a chronic illness. What are the phases of clinical trials?Clinical trials are conducted in phases. The trials at each phase have a different purpose and help scientists answer different questions:
Some content adapted from http://www.clinicaltrials.gov a service of the National Institute of Health.
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