How to Navigate ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov can be the first step to learn more about a clinical research trial and currently lists 391,404 studies in the U.S. and worldwide.
5 Steps to Find the Right Clinical Trial for You
At first, participating in a clinical trial can be overwhelming. There are thousands of research studies happening worldwide, so how does one narrow it down? Clinically Trials is here to help. We pulled together the easiest steps on how to find and participate in the right clinical trial for you.
Why Participate in a Clinical Trial?
What are the benefits of participating in a clinical trial?
There are many benefits to participating in a clinical study. You’ll be granted access to a potential new treatment before it becomes widely available to the public. Even if you do not explicitly benefit from the results of the clinical research study, the information gathered from your participation throughout the trial will help others and future medical research.
Being a part of a study empowers you to play a more active role in your own health care. If certain treatments are not effective or covered by insurance providers, clinical trials can be a great option.
Additionally, good clinical practices are of a high standard. Researchers may provide you with medical care and more frequent health check-ups as part of your treatment, helping you feel supported for the duration of the study.
Additional reasons to join a clinical trial:
Potential compensation for time, travel, etc.
Participation is always voluntary, so you may withdraw from a study at any time, even if the study is not over.
Patients are protected through informed content processes.
Each federally supported or conducted clinical study is regulated by the FDA and must be reviewed, approved, and monitored by an institutional review board (IRB).
What clinical trial participants said about their experience:
“My wife saw the advert on a social media platform and told me about it. Very easy to sign up and great people doing the study. I would do another study in a heartbeat”
“Simple. Easy to complete.”
“It was simple to sign up and the dermatologist reached out right away.”
“Everything was super easy to fill out and the reps at The site were all super nice!!”
“It was very easy to sign up, and the trial was a great experience”
Participants are a vital piece to the process of improving medical care, such as helping prevent, diagnose, and cure diseases and illnesses. Everyone who participates in clinical trials makes a lasting impact not only in science, but in others’ daily lives.
Check out our Featured Conditions to sign up for a trial today! Don’t see a trial you qualify for? No worries — go to our home page and scroll down to let us know what kind of trials you would like to participate in.
Top 5 Questions About Clinical Trials
1 – How did clinical trials begin?
Evidence of recorded trials dates back to biblical times, and elements of controlled trials were seen as early as the 1700s. The groundbreaking streptomycin (a type of antibiotic) trial of 1946 was the ‘landmark trial for the model of meticulousness in design and implementation of research,’ says Dr. Arun Bhatt.
As ethics for human protection advanced in the sciences, so did the number of volunteers, continuing the growth of research and trials. Clinical trials today have evolved into standardized procedures to regulate treatments.
2 – What is a clinical trial?
The National Library of Medicine explains a clinical study as “research using human volunteers that is intended to add to medical knowledge.” This knowledge can be related to the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of diseases and conditions. The main goal of a clinical trial is to determine the safety and efficacy of a medical intervention by measuring certain outcomes in the participants.
There are two main types of clinical studies: interventional studies and observational studies.
According to the National Cancer Institute, “an observational study is a type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured. No attempt is made to affect the outcome (for example, no treatment is given).”
Oppositely, during an interventional study, participants receive specific interventions according to the research plan, typically created by a medical doctor. These interventions may be medical products, such as drugs or devices; procedures; or changes to participants’ behavior, such as diet.
3 — Who is involved in a clinical trial?
Clinical studies highly trained research teams; this includes doctors, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals.
4 — Where do clinical trials take place?
Study location depends on who is conducting the study. Clinical studies can take place in universities, doctors’ offices, and community clinics.
5 — How long do clinical trials last?
The length of a clinical study can vary. However, participants who qualify for a clinical trial will always be informed about the study duration before they enroll.
Visit clinicaltrials.gov for more information and our website to learn more about why you should join a clinical trial!
References:
Learn about clinical studies. ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Accessed September 22, 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/about-studies/learn#ClinicalTrials
NCI dictionary of Cancer TERMS. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Accessed September 22, 2021. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/observational-study
Bhatt, A. (2010, January). Evolution of clinical research: A history before and beyond james lind. Perspectives in clinical research. Accessed September 22, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3149409/