Researchers don’t know what the results of clinical trials will be. (If they did, they wouldn’t have to do the trials.) This uncertainty can make it hard to decide if you want to participate in a clinical trial. In rare cases, clinical trial volunteers have been hurt by the treatment or procedure being tested. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people have been helped and are alive because other people chose to participate in a trial that resulted in a new, more effective treatment. While clinical trials are important, the choice to participate in one is very personal and depends on your unique situation.
- You play a more active role in your own healthcare.
- Researchers may provide you with medical care and more frequent health check-ups as part of your treatment.
- You may be able to get information about support groups and resources.
- Access to promising new treatments is often not available outside the clinical-trial setting.
- A clinical trial may be more effective than the standard approach
- Close monitoring, advice, care, and support by a research team of doctors and other health care professionals who understand your disease or condition.
- The opportunity to be the first to benefit from a new method under study.
- The chance to play an active role in your own health care and gain a greater understanding of your disease or condition.
- The chance to help society by contributing to medical research. Even if you don’t directly benefit from the results of the clinical trial you take part in, the information gathered can help others and adds to scientific knowledge. People who take part in clinical trials are vital to the process of improving medical care.