Below is a
short checklist of items you may want to consider before you come to your
decision about whether or not to participate in a clinical trial.
- What is the purpose of the study?
- What are the potential medical benefits of
participating?
- Will the study benefit others?
- What are the risks to participating? What
discomforts are involved?
- Are there other inconveniences?
- Does the study involve a placebo? If so, what
are the chances that I will receive it, rather than the experimental treatment?
- How long does the study last and what will I be
asked to do as a participant?
- How often to I need to attend study appointments
and how long do these last?
- Do
I have to pay for any part of the study? Will my insurance cover these costs?
- Is
there any reimbursement for travel costs, parking or childcare?
- Will
I be able to continue to see my own doctor? Will they be informed?
- If
the treatment works for me, can I keep using it after the study?
- What
happens if I am injured through my participation in the trial?
- Who
will be able to view the medical information kept about me in the study?
- Will
I receive any follow-up care after the study has ended?
- Does
the physician/investigator have any financial or special interest in the
clinical study?
-
What
are the credentials and research experience of the physician and study staff?
