Questions and Disclaimers Before Clinical Trials

If you’re considering participating in a clinical trial in the near future, whether for a condition you have or as a healthy volunteer, you’ll be doing a great service if you choose to move forward. These studies can make a huge difference for care for various conditions into the future, and these studies are often the foundation of medical evolution.

At AGA Clinical Trials, we want to return this kindness by keeping you fully informed of every detail for any trial you participate in with us. We’re transparent with all our trial information well in advance – here are several areas that will likely be mentioned to you, but that you should consider asking about if not.

Important Disclaimers

A few basic disclaimers to consider as you’re signing up for clinical research:

Your first priority should be finding out what will be asked of you during the trial. Many trials will include diagnostic testing, multiple visits, various medical procedures or other requirements.
There is no guarantee of any medical benefit to you being gained during this process. However, it’s possible you will receive such benefits through examinations from doctors and various treatments performed.
You may be exposed to some risk of harm during this trial, which you’ll be informed of clearly well in advance. Carefully consider the risks here before approving.

Questions to Ask

Many of the most important questions you’ll want to ask about your trial will already be listed in the basic documentation. But just in case elements are missing, here’s a wide range of questions to consider asking before signing up.

What is being studied, and why do researchers believe the methods being tested might work (these answers might be limited if you are taking part in a blind study)?
What are the possible interventions or treatments I might receive during my trial? How will researchers determine which interventions are given to specific patients?
Who will know which treatments are given to whom during the trial? Will researchers know?
What are possible risks or side effects of trial processes? How do these compare to current side effects for any medications I take for my condition
How often will I have to visit the trial location?
What will I have to do during the trial?
How long will the trial carry on for?
Will I be reimbursed for various expenses?
Is there long-term follow-up care involved in the trial? If so, what type?
Will I receive the results of this study when it’s completed?
If I benefit from the interventions or medications used in the trial, will I be allowed to continue receiving them even after it ends?
What are my options available if I’m injured or become sick during the trial?

For more on what to ask about before beginning your trial, or to learn about any of our medical trials or services, speak to the staff at AGA Clinical Trials today.