Talk to your doctor about clinical trials
If you want to participate in a clinical trial, discuss the pros and cons with your doctor first. An informed decision is better than a rash decision.
Why is it important to talk to your doctor about clinical trials?
Your doctor is your primary health care provider. He or she knows your medical condition and can assess whether you can safely participate in a clinical trial. Your doctor can also assess the value of participating in a particular clinical trial, considering your health status, medical history, and the phase of the clinical trial in question. In addition, you should inform your doctor about your possible participation in a clinical trial. After all, it is important that your doctor knows what treatment you may receive in the trial. That way, they can work with the clinical trial to determine what, if anything, should be done with your other treatments. So always talk to your doctor: if you’re interested in a clinical trial and if you’re participating in one.
Questions about clinical trials that you should ask your doctor before participating
1. About the design of a particular study
- What is the purpose of the study? What is being tested?
- Why do the researchers think the treatment being tested (drug, non-drug treatment, procedure, medical device) may be better than currently available treatments?
- What treatment will I receive?
- How will the treatment be administered?
- How long will the study last? How long will I stay in the study?
- Where will the study take place?
- Will I have to stay in the hospital?
- How often will I have to come to the hospital?
- What should I do with the medications I normally take and other treatments I usually get?
- What should I be prepared for?
- Can I have a placebo? What is the likelihood of this happening?
- What happens if I don’t get the new treatment during the study?
- When should I decide if I want to participate in the study?
- What happens when the study ends?
2. Benefits and Risks
- What are the potential benefits of participating in a clinical trial, both short-term and long-term?
- What are the potential benefits of participating in this particular study? How is this study useful to me?
- What are the risks of participating in a clinical trial, both short-term and long-term?
- Has the safety of the treatment already been tested?
- What are the risks of participating in this specific study? What are the potential side effects?
- What is the risk of side effects in this specific study?
- What should I do if I have a particular side effect?
- What happens if I get sick or injured during the study?
3. Costs
- Who is paying the costs of my participation in a clinical trial?
- Do I have to pay anything during a clinical trial?
- Will I be reimbursed for my expenses (travel, meals, etc.)?
- Who will pay for treatment if I get sick during the study?
4. Compare choices
- What other treatment options do I have outside of this clinical trial?
- What treatment will I receive if I do not participate in this study?
- How does the treatment I will receive in this study compare to other treatment options? Are the potential risks and benefits similar to those of the treatment I will receive if I do not participate?
5. Medical Treatment During the Study
- Who will provide my medical treatment while I am participating in the clinical trial?
- Will I need to be hospitalized during the study?
- How often will I need to come to the hospital?
6. Rights, duties and privacy
- Can I leave a study at any time? Can I leave this particular study at any time?
- What happens if I leave this clinical study early?
- Who can I talk to with questions during the study?
- Can I talk to someone who is already in the study before I decide?
- Who can I contact if I have questions after the study?
- How will I be informed about the results of the study?
- What obligations do I have if I participate in a clinical trial? What obligations do I have if I participate in this particular clinical study?
- Will my health data be kept private? If so, how?
7. Daily life
- How will participating in a clinical trial affect my daily life? How will this particular clinical trial affect my daily life?
- Will I have to travel or measure long distances daily during the study?
- Will I have to come in for check-ups after the study is over?
Discussing all of these issues with your doctor will help you make a decision. If your doctor feels it is safe for you to participate in a clinical trial and you want to take part based on the information you have been given, you can make an informed decision.
