There are a number of elements to consider if you’re thinking about signing up for any kind of clinical research trial, and one of the first during any such situation is whether or not you will qualify for participation. Simply put, due to a number of important factors that surround the world of clinical research, not everyone will qualify for a given study.
At AGA Clinical Trials, we’re happy to offer a wide range of clinical research trials in Miami, including hypertension studies, migraine studies and many others currently enrolling. Why are trial populations typically restricted in certain basic ways, and what do you have to think about when it comes to trial eligibility? This two-part blog will begin today by going over the reasons why clinical trials are limited, while part two next time will look at important themes like informed consent and healthy volunteer qualification.
Limiting Quality of Results
The single largest and most notable reason why clinical trials have certain eligibility requirements is to make sure that the quality of results from a given study are as high as possible. When participants are carefully screened for things like age, health and other basic factors, it’s easier to rule out any potential causes of error or skewed data later on.
Participants With the Condition
The simplest restriction typically is that a given trial will only be open to people who have the condition or disease that is being studied. After all, if you’re testing a new treatment for arthritis, you wouldn’t want to include participants without arthritis in the study, as they would not be affected by the medication being tested.
Other Conditions
There are other conditions that may not be the focus of a study but could influence the results in a way that is undesirable. Pregnancy, for example, is often an exclusionary factor in many clinical trials, as the developing fetus could be adversely affected by certain medications being tested.
Age Requirements
Age also plays a role in many clinical research trials. While some studies may be open to people of all ages, others may only be open to adults or seniors, as the effects of a given medication may vary greatly between age groups.
Location
In some cases, a clinical trial may only be taking place in certain locations. This is often due to the need for specific facilities or equipment that may not be available everywhere.
These are just a few of the broadest reasons for clinical trial populations being intentionally limited. However, individual trials or trial providers might have several additional requirements or restrictions that are specific to the needs of that particular study.
For more on this, or to learn about any of our enrolling clinical trials in Miami or nearby areas, speak to our team at AGA Clinical Trials today.
