5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Participating in a Clinical Trial

Making decisions can be tough, especially when they relate to your health! One decision you may face is whether or not participating in a clinical trial is right for you. There are several types of clinical trials, and each have different goals and requirements. So, while one clinical trial may not be a good fit for you, there may be others that are.

If you’re thinking about exploring clinical trial options but still aren’t sure, ask yourself some questions to determine if a clinical trial might be right for you:

Am I willing to work with a new healthcare team during the trial?

While you can still see your doctor while enrolled in a clinical trial, you will also be seeing a new group of healthcare professionals who are working on the study. Clinical trials are conducted by a group of researchers. The lead researcher for a trial is called the principal investigator (PI), who is usually a medical doctor or other healthcare professional. The research team may also include other doctors, nurses, and researchers. This research team is usually different from the healthcare team you see for your regular care. It’s important to inform your usual healthcare team of the clinical trial you are thinking of participating in and to discuss how the process will work.

Am I willing to follow the trial protocol?

The clinical trial protocol is a detailed plan of what the trial will involve. When you agree to participate in a clinical trial you will sign an informed consent document, which outlines the protocol and any tests, procedures, or appointments that are expected of you. These expectations may impact your day-to-day life. When reviewing the trial protocol be sure to note when you will need to travel to appointments and how often you may be required to have tests or procedures, like blood draws or MRI scans. You may also be asked to stop taking medications you are currently on while you are in the clinical trial. Keep an up-to-date list of all medications, including over the counter medications, and show this to the clinical trial team to be sure you can continue taking them during the trial.

Am I okay with potential unknowns?

Some clinical trials are blinded, or masked, meaning that participants will not know what medication they are receiving. Some studies are double-blind studies, meaning both the participant and the research staff will not know what medications a participant is on. This is done to prevent any bias or influence and to allow the participant and researchers to measure the true effect of a drug. In blinded trials, you will be informed of all possible treatments that will be part of the trial, including no treatment (placebo). Before agreeing to participate, it is important to ask yourself if you would be okay with receiving any of the possible treatments, and if you could handle not knowing which treatment you may be given.

Am I okay with the possible risks?

The research protocol and informed consent document will outline your rights as a clinical trial participant. This document will note the potential benefits for participating in a clinical trial and will also note potential risks. Clinical research is approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) that ensures any risks are minimal. While the research team and IRB will do everything possible to minimize risks, it cannot always be guaranteed. It is important to take note of the potential risks you may incur and decide if these possible risks are worth the benefits.

Will I be okay with the possibility of not being selected?

Clinical trials are designed with certain criteria and researchers are often looking for a select group of participants with certain medical histories. These characteristics and medical histories are outlined in the trial’s inclusion and exclusion criteria. One of the main reasons people are excluded from a study is to maintain their safety. For some clinical trials, you may agree to participate and sign an informed consent document, but then be found to be ineligible for the trial after further testing. If you are not selected for a particular trial this does not mean that you cannot try and enroll for a different clinical trial.

There may be other questions you have about clinical trials. You may want to talk with friends, family, and your doctor, or ask the community for their experience. Ultimately, it’s important you make a decision that you feel comfortable with.