Clinical trials are a valuable research tool to advance medical knowledge and discover new treatments. The results of a trial can aid in the development of new drugs or medical devices by offering insights into how they work in ways that aren’t possible in a laboratory setting or with animal subjects.
The choice to participate in a clinical trial is personal and depends on your particular medical situation, and the uncertainty of the results can make the decision difficult. But millions of people have been helped thanks to the participation of people like you. If you’re thinking about joining a clinical trial, here’s what you need to know about the benefits, risks and safety:
Benefits of a clinical trial
The most obvious benefit of participating in a clinical trial is the possibility of finding an effective treatment for your particular medical condition. But there are many other benefits, including:
- Access to cutting-edge treatments that are not yet widely available
- Treatment that could prove more effective than existing, standard approaches
- The opportunity to be the first beneficiary of a new treatment or method
- Care, support, advice, and close monitoring by a research team that specializes in your medical condition
- Compensation for your time and commitment is sometimes offered
- Greater understanding of your medical condition and the opportunity to take an active role in your healthcare
- The opportunity to help society overall by contributing to medical research
- The chance to help others with your condition even if the trial treatment doesn’t work for you
Risks of a clinical trial
The very nature of clinical trials—testing out a new medicine, device, or treatment approach—means there’s a healthy amount of uncertainty involved. The lowest risk possible would simply be an ineffective result, or negative side effects at worst. Other risks and downsides to clinical trials include:
- A new approach or treatment might work for some participants, but not you
- New strategies might not be more effective than current standard care
- A trial may require a significant time commitment, including multiple visits to the clinical trial site, hospital stays, and additional treatments
- You might be part of a clinical trial’s control group, which receives a placebo or standard treatment instead of the new drug or device
- There might be a gap in coverage between what the clinical trial covers and what your health insurance covers
Safety assurance during a clinical trial
Although there are some risks associated with clinical trials, researchers are committed to ensuring the safety of every participant. There are several laws in place to prevent the potential for mismanagement or abuse, and each research site must have an Institutional Review Board to approve every proposed trial and review the study and results once complete. Additionally, every clinical research team is required to follow a careful protocol or study plan that describes the trial process in detail, and the principal researcher is responsible for ensuring the protocol is followed.
Clinical trial participants are also protected by the informed consent process, which informs each participant what to expect, including the risks and possible side effects, before the trial begins.
Questions to ask before participating in a clinical trial
To be as informed as possible before participating in a clinical trial, here are some questions you should ask researchers before enrolling:
- What is the purpose of the trial?
- Who is sponsoring the trial?
- Who has reviewed and approved the trial?
- What kinds of tests, medicines, or devices are involved?
- What are the possible risks or side effects?
- How long will the trial last?
- Does the trial involve hospitalization?
- Will the trial cover the costs of tests and treatments?
- Will I be reimbursed for other expenses, such as travel?
- Who will be in charge of my care?
- What will happen when the trial is over?
Participants should discuss the trial with their doctor and carefully consider the benefits and risks before agreeing to participate. It’s also important to note that you are free to withdraw from a clinical trial at any time if you are not satisfied with the process or results.
Clinical trials at Synergy Research Centers
At Synergy Research Center in San Diego, we have been conducting clinical research trials for nearly 20 years, and millions of people around the world have benefited from our studies. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, fill out our contact form or call us at (619) 304-1726 today.