What you need to know about clinical trials, before you start considering one.
Top 10 things you must know before taking part in a trial
Put simply, this is the Top 10 list of things you must know before you get involved as a participant in a clinical trial. It will help make sure you are fully informed, protected, and have realistic expectations, such that you can make an informed decision about participation. If you are considering a clinical trial, ALWAYS make sure: you
Who regulates and approves clinical trials?
There are alot of rules around how to run clinical trials, based on international guidelines and local country regulations. The International guidance for how clinical trials are run is known as Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP). These guidelines set out the responsibilities of ethics committees, researchers, sponsors and monitors of trials, the records that should be kept and the details around
Where do clinical trials take place?
Clinical trials are usually conducted in clinics where the researchers work. This might be GP or primary care physician offices, hospital clinics or departments, specialist clinics, and may be private or public institutions. Trials can be “single-centre” (run at only one clinic), or “multicentre” (run at many clinics at the same time). Multicentre trials may be done in just one
What are Phase I, II, III, or IV trials?
The terms phase I, II, III and IV are usually used when there is an drug being tested. There can be multiple trials in each phase. The phases usually follow one another, but can sometimes overlap. Decisions will be made at the end of each trial whether to continue testing the treatment. Let‟s consider the treatment being test is called
Why would I take part in a clinical trial?
Why? Different people have different reasons for volunteering for clinical trials. You might like to take part to have a more active role in your own health, get personal medical attention from the researchers, obtain expert medical care, gain access to new treatments early, or help others in the future by contributing to the advancement of medical knowledge. One
Is it safe to be in a clinical trial?
There is no guarantee of 100% safety by taking part in a clinical trial, because the purpose of clinical trial is to establish safety and whether the treatment works for a particular condition. A researcher would never ask you to take part if they thought the risks outweighed the benefits, nor would an ethics committee approve the trial. Ethics
Where can I find out what clinical trials are available?
We provide some information on finding trials on our Find Trials page. If you are still unsure and would like some assistance, please contact us to discuss how we might be able to help.
What does randomisation mean?
Randomisation is…? Randomisation is the technique that researchers use to try to prevent the bias in results that could potentially happen if a researcher could choose which treatment group to assign a volunteer to. While there may be hope that one treatment is better than another, running a trial is only ethical if there is true uncertainty about which treatment
What questions should I ask a researcher inviting me into a clinical trial?
While we advocate for the value of participating in clinical trials, it is really important to make sure you ask questions to work out all your options, and what participation in a clinical trial will involve and mean for you. Not every trial may suit your risk profile, personal circumstances or choices. So we encourage you not to blindly say yes
How do I know if I might be suitable for a trial?
Every trial has a list of eligibility criteria that outlines who will be suitable (or eligible) to take part. You may see this list referred to as the “Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria”. These lists are important for the safety of the volunteers, and reliability of the data from the trial. The clinical trial registers available online will usually list the main trial