What you need to know about Clinical Trials
If you are thinking of participating in a clinical trial you should know a few basics about how they work. First, each clinical trial has a set of criteria that needs to be met if a person is to qualify for participation. Clinical trials are always thoroughly explained and participants give their consent prior to the trial beginning. This is called informed consent. Clinical trials can take place in hospitals, treatment centers, doctor’s offices, and health clinics. They will never take place without the knowledge of the participants.
The main goal of clinical trials is to test new drugs and medications on human subjects. If the medications are proven safe and effective they will hopefully be used as a better treatment than the best existing treatment. Besides its effectiveness, several factors can come into play as to whether or not a new treatment will be made available to the general public. This can include ease of manufacturing and whether the medication is affordable for those who need it.
There are different types of clinical trials depending on what the trial is hoping to achieve. These include treatment, prevention, diagnostic, screening, and quality of life. While many trials focus on testing new drugs for better treatments, others test better ways to prevent, diagnose or screen for diseases. Quality of life clinical trials test ways to improve the quality of life for those with chronic illnesses.
Why would someone want to participate in a clinical trial? Some people are ill and hoping to have access to the latest medications and medical experts. While this can happen, there are no guarantees that every participant will receive the new medication. Many clinical trials include a control group, which is given an existing medication or a placebo. Still, some people participate to help the research move forward, not just for themselves, but also for the greater good. Completely healthy people are needed for clinical trials.
Several government, medical and community groups closely monitor clinical trials throughout the process. The safety of participants is top priority. Taking part in a clinical trial can be a rewarding experience. Get the facts up front about what to expect, the time commitments and compensation that may be available to you. Going into a trial with as much knowledge as possible will help things run smoothly for both the participants as well as the researchers.