Before a drug or treatment can be approved for use in the United States, it must go through a series of clinical trials to determine its effectiveness and identify side effects.Patients suffering from chronic medical conditions, such as cancer, can benefit from clinical trials.All the time, new drugs and treatments are being developed that have the potential to make people's lives longer and healthier.There are many clinical trials that need healthy volunteers as well.
Step 1: Talk to your doctor.
If you have a chronic illness or medical condition, your primary treatment provider is your best source for clinical trials that might benefit you.Let your doctor know that you're interested in exploring possibilities.If you hear of a trial you'd like to participate in, bring it to your doctor and let them know.They can tell you if you would benefit from the drug or treatment being studied.
Step 2: There are lists on the internet.
Government agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and medical foundations, maintain lists of clinical trials.You can check the lists often if you bookmarks them.The lists are maintained by groups that sponsor trials.The database maintained by the National Institute of Health is one of the largest sources.Most cancer-related clinical trials that receive government funding come from the National Cancer Institute.They have a list at www.cancer.gov/clinical trials.
Step 3: It's important to identify and avoid scam.
If you have recently been diagnosed with a serious or life threatening illness, you may be desperate for a cure.It probably is if something sounds too good to be true.Do background research on the doctors or facility conducting the trial.If they've conducted trials for other drugs or treatments in the past, you can learn more about the trials and their outcomes.To find out if a doctor is licensed and in good standing, look up their licenses on the medical board website.Clinical trials that claim that a drug doesn't have negative side effects should be avoided.
Step 4: You need to sign up for a matching service.
You can get a matching service online to do the grunt work for you if you don't have time to look through long lists of clinical trials.Most of these services are free to use.The service will search through trial descriptions and eligibility criteria if you provide information about your illness or condition.It will return a list of trials you are eligible for.
Step 5: The trial's protocol summary should be read.
The summary gives important information about the purpose of the trial and how it will be run.Some trials have information about the trial available.Reach out to someone on the research team if you don't understand the protocol.The clinical trial listing should have contact information.Ask your doctor if they can give you any insight.
Step 6: The eligibility guidelines should be evaluated.
The inclusion and exclusion criteria for people who can participate in a trial are listed in the eligibility guidelines.To take part in the study, you must meet all of the inclusion criteria.You aren't eligible for the study if any of the exclusion criteria apply to you.Talk to your doctor if you don't meet some of the criteria for a clinical trial.They may be able to grant you an exception.Suppose you're looking at the eligibility guidelines for a clinical trial.Females between the ages of 32 and 52 who have Stage 3 lung cancer are required to participate in the trial.You are close to the criteria if you're a 30-year-old female.If you can be granted an exception, you should talk to your doctor to find out the reason for the age limitation.
Step 7: Ask for a referral from your doctor.
Getting a referral from your primary healthcare provider may be the easiest way to be considered for a clinical trial.This is the only way to enter some trials.A doctor's referral isn't usually necessary if you are a healthy participant.You can get in touch with the doctors running the trial.Depending on the purpose of the trial, a referral from a specialist may be more valuable than a primary care physician's referral.If you want to take part in a clinical trial for a new drug, you should get a referral from your neurologist.
Step 8: The clinical trial co-ordinator can be contacted.
There will be a summary of the trial on the website.They will let you know what you need to do.You may be able to find information if the trial has a website.Contact and application information can be found at the website of the organization or group sponsoring the trial.
Step 9: You can schedule a screening appointment.
You must be sure that you're eligible to take part in the trial.A physical exam and written tests are included in your screening appointment.During the screening appointment, a member of the research team will likely describe the trial for you and answer any questions you may have about the process.If you have to take a test to determine your eligibility, you need to sign a consent form.
Step 10: If you're rejected from the trial, ask for an exception.
You may not be eligible to participate after screening.You may be able to get a special exception if you had hopes that the trial would benefit your medical condition.You should talk to your doctor if you still want to participate in a trial.They can find out why you were rejected and see if the coordinator will grant you an exception.If you participate under an exception, you are treated the same as the regular participants, but your information is not included in the study.It is possible that you will have to pay for treatment.
Step 11: Discuss the trial with family and friends.
People close to you should understand the requirements for the protocol, as well as the possible benefits and risks of participation in the trial, before you sign up for a clinical trial.If there are questions that arise as a result of these conversations, contact your own doctor.If you have a friend or family member who is acting as a care giver for you, it is a good idea to have them sit down with a research doctor.During the trial, the doctor will answer your questions and explain what they need to do.
Step 12: The form needs to be signed.
Before you can participate in a clinical trial, you have to give your informed consent.Before you can agree to participate in a clinical trial, you must be given certain information by the FDA, including the risks and possible benefits.Specific written disclosures will be included in the consent form.A member of the research team will help you understand the form.The care and treatment that will be provided to you in exchange for your participation is discussed in the informed consent form.
Step 13: Go over it.
A member of the research team will talk to you before the trial starts about the treatment protocol.If you have a question, your doctor may be able to answer it.Speak up if you're confused about something.To participate in a clinical trial, you need to understand all the steps of the protocol.
Step 14: You have to complete your initial exam and testing.
Before the trial starts, the research team needs blood work and other tests done.This shows them a picture of your health condition.A complete physical exam and a complete medical history can be obtained from the research doctors.If you're participating in a clinical trial to treat a chronic illness or medical condition, this history will usually be focused on what you have done so far.
Step 15: Attend all appointments
When you're involved in a clinical trial, you may meet more with the research doctors than you would with your regular doctors.You don't need to see a doctor if you keep these appointments.When you get medical treatment, your appointments are usually based on your physical needs.Research doctors balance your needs with the needs of the trial.
Step 16: Talk openly with trial researchers.
Side effects of treatments are part of a clinical trial.Even if you don't notice anything different, you still need to let the doctors know.Don't try to impersonate a doctor.If you think a symptom is unrelated to the clinical trial, you still need to tell the research team.They should be able to identify the underlying cause of the symptom.
Step 17: You should follow up after the trial.
The researchers may still need to talk to you after the trial is over.If you notice anything that might be related to the trial, you will usually be given the name and phone number of a member of the research team.If you participated in a clinical trial for an experimental cancer treatment, your cancer went into remission.Call the researchers if it comes back eight months after the trial is over.Researchers may want to know if your cancer is still in remission after eight months.