If you would like to be in a clinical trial, the best place to start is
usually to discuss it with your own physician. Whether or not your doctor is
involved with clinical trials, s/he can advise you regarding the suitability
of your condition for a trial and whether it would be in your best interest,
medically, to participate. S/he may also be able to direct you to an on-going
clinical trial site. For more information on clinical trials, check out our
Women's Health Resources.
Important questions to ask your physician (and then to the
physician running the clinical trial) if you want to be in a clinical trial:
| ___ | Am I a good candidate for this
clinical trial? |
| ___ | Will trial participation enhance
my medical care in any specific way? |
| ___ | Does participation in this trial
give me access to medicine that is not yet available to the general public? |
| ___ | Is there a chance that I will
be in the placebo group? If I am in the placebo group, will I have a chance
to try the study medication after the trial? |
| ___ | How long is the trial? |
| ___ | Where is the trial being conducted?
|
| ___ | What treatments will be used
and how? |
| ___ | What is the main purpose of
the trial? |
| ___ | How will patient safety be monitored?
|
| ___ | What are the known risks (short
term side effects and longer term effects) of this study medication? |
| ___ | What are the possible benefits
of the study medication? |
| ___ | Can I opt to remain on this
treatment, even after termination of the trial? |
| ___ | What are the alternative treatments
besides the one being tested in the trial? |
| ___ | Who is sponsoring the trial?
|
| ___ | Do I have to pay for any part
of the trial? |
| ___ | What happens if I am harmed
by the trial? |
| ___ | Are there certain behaviors
or activities I will have to avoid during the trial (e.g. smoking, drinking,
getting pregnant)? |
| ___ | Are there certain behaviors
(e.g. diet, exercise, contraception) that I will have to practice during the
trial? |
| ___ | What are the risks if I were
to get pregnant during this trial? |
| ___ | How will my medical costs be
handled during the trial? |
| ___ | Will I be asked to take invasive
medical tests that I would not otherwise need? |
| ___ | What kind of time commitment
am I making per required visit by participating in this trial? |
| ___ | Will I be compensated for travel,
childcare or other incidental expenses? |
| ___ | How will this trial add to the
body of medical knowledge in this field? |
| ___ | Will the results of this trial
potentially impact my own medical care? |
