So, have you ever thought about whether you could potentially be part of a clinical trial? Having worked in the biopharma industry for more than twenty years, I know firsthand how clinical trials can impact people’s lives. But I also recognise that participating in a clinical trial is a substantial decision.
What Are Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are scientific studies involving human participants. They are intended to experiment with new methods to prevent, detect, or treat diseases. These studies give researchers an idea of how effective new treatments are and whether they’re safe. In general, clinical trials can be the following types:
- Pure interventional trials: These examine new therapies, such as drugs or medical devices.
- Observational studies: Researchers observe your health without making changes to your treatment.
- Prevention trials: These explore ways to prevent diseases from developing or returning.
Clinical trials have stages as well:
- Phase 1: Evaluates a new treatment’s safety in a small group.
- Phase 2: Engages more people to test whether the treatment is effective and examine its safety more closely.
- Phase 3:I nvolves large groups and compares the new treatment to standard treatments.
- Phase 4:Further examines the treatment after it has been approved for use.
Advantages of Becoming Involved in Clinical Trials
Participating in a clinical trial has its benefits:
- Access to new treatments: You may be able to try a treatment before it becomes available to the general public.
- Expert medical care: Care is provided by top healthcare professionals focused on medical innovation.
- Advancing medical knowledge: Your involvement can help doctors learn more and hopefully bring new treatments to you sooner.
- Potential health benefits: The new treatment may be more effective than the current treatment options.
Risks and Warnings
Be aware of the potential risks:
- New drugs: New treatments could bring new and unexpected side effects.
- Time commitment: Often, trials mean you need to attend a clinical research centre on a regular basis.
- Uncertainty: The new treatment may not be more effective than traditional options.
- Potential costs: Many trials foot the bill for treatment, but you might incur other costs or not be able to recover your loss of earnings.
Who May Benefit from Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials may be a good choice for:
- Chronic condition patients seeking alternative treatment pathways
- Patients suffering from rare diseases for which few treatments exist
- Healthy volunteers who wish to help advance medical research
- Older patients seeking specialised care
It’s also important to mention that clinical trials need diverse participants. See our blogs on diversity to learn more and understand why this is so important.
How to Look for and Participate in Clinical Trials
If you’re thinking about entering a clinical trial:
- Talk to your doctor: They may be able to recommend any trials that could be right for you.
- Exercise the power of the internet: Sites like clinicaltrials.gov list ongoing studies.
- Contact local research centres: Many hospitals and universities conduct clinical trials.
- Suitability and willingness: Each trial has certain criteria in terms of who can take part. Make sure you are likely to be suitable and will be able to handle the commitment before going for a screening visit for a trial.
If you think a clinical trial could work for you, talk to your doctor. They can help you consider the pros and cons based on your specific health condition and steer you toward appropriate studies.
Knowing what goes into clinical trial participation will guide your decision-making about whether being a part of a clinical trial is for you.