FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are research studies conducted in human volunteers to address specific health questions. They play a crucial role in discovering effective treatments and improving overall health. By carefully conducting clinical trials, researchers can determine the safety and effectiveness of interventions in people. These trials cover various areas, such as prevention options, new treatments or alternative uses for existing treatments, diagnostic techniques, and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with serious medical conditions.
Each clinical trial follows a plan called a protocol, which outlines the study’s parameters, including eligibility criteria, test schedules, drug dosages, study duration, and desired outcomes. Participants must adhere to the rules outlined in the protocol.
Who should consider clinical trials and why?
Clinical trials are important to test drugs and medical products on the population they are intended to help. Research should encompass a diverse range of individuals as different people may respond differently to treatments. Regulatory bodies, like the FDA, advocate for the inclusion of individuals from various age groups, races, ethnicities, and genders in clinical trials.
Some individuals choose to participate in clinical trials after exhausting standard treatment options that proved ineffective or caused intolerable side effects. Clinical trials provide an alternative when approved therapies have failed. Others participate to contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge.
Researchers establish eligibility criteria for each trial, considering factors such as age, sex, disease type and stage, treatment history, and other medical conditions. These criteria help reduce variation in the study, ensuring scientific integrity while facilitating the analysis of results. Not everyone who applies for a clinical trial will be accepted, as volunteers may be excluded based on eligibility criteria and the required number of participants.