Everything You Need to Know About Clinical Trials
The process to join a clinical trial can be confusing & maybe a little daunting. If you’re curious about a clinical trial, don’t get overwhelmed. Get informed!
What is a Clinical Trial?
Like most biomedical research studies, a clinical trial seeks to contribute to the existing body of medical knowledge and literature. The structure of these studies allows medical researchers to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a particular treatment.
A clinical trial involves everyday people in a research study. In contrast to observational studies, which may also involve volunteers, clinical trials assign each person to a particular group. That group determines the intervention or treatment they will receive during the trial. Often, one group will receive a new or experimental intervention, while the other—a control group—will receive either no intervention (as a placebo) or an intervention that is already used regularly.
Four Phases of a Clinical Trial
Clinical trials are part of a regulated process, and they consist of four phases. Before an intervention reaches these four phases, researchers will conduct pre-clinical studies in cells or animals.
Phase 1: This first stage focuses primarily on the safety of the intervention.
Phase 2: This step looks more closely at whether the given intervention works.
Phase 3: The new intervention is compared to a standard treatment or placebo.
Phase 4: Finally, long term effects are examined.
Where to Find Clinical Trials & Who to Consult
Learn more about the clinical trials available for conditions that affect you.
ClinicalTrials.gov
Visit ClinicalTrials.gov to learn more about what clinical studies exist for your condition of interest. Using an “Advanced Search,” you can fine-tune your exact search by selecting filters related to features like eligibility criteria, locations of the studies and more.
Consult with Your Healthcare Providers
Your healthcare providers, including your physicians, nurses, and speech pathologists, among others, can help you navigate clinical trials. Based on their expertise, they may recommend trials or answer questions from your own search.
Ask Questions!
When it comes to making decisions about participating in clinical trials, you are in the driver’s seat!
Prepare questions in advance for your healthcare providers and for the research team who set up the clinical trial. Questions might range from potential risks and benefits of participating in a trial to logistical questions, such as when and where you can report for treatments. Knowledge is power. Getting ready ahead of time will set you up with all the answers you need to comfortably make the right decision.
Top Questions for Your Doctor
Access our list of the most important questions to ask your physician at your next appointment.
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