Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are an important part of developing effective treatments for the medical conditions many of us face today. However, becoming familiar with the clinical trials process, understanding the risks and benefits involved, and even finding a clinical trial that’s right for you can be an overwhelming process. The resources in this Web guide provide the guidance you need to find answers to your questions.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials help medical researchers find better ways to diagnose, test for or prevent disease. They also help compare the effectiveness of one medical treatment against another. The Web sites in this section offer an overview of what the clinical trials process entails.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Much of the clinical trials information on the Web deals specifically with cancer-related trials. To learn about clinical trials for other conditions, use more specific search terms like “diabetes clinical trials” or “asthma clinical trials.”
- Some of the sites included in the “Finding Clinical Trials” section of this guide also provide news updates about clinical trials.
- When your health is involved, be sure any medical information you read is credible. See the findingDulcinea Health Web Guide for additional resources that show you how to check the validity of a medical Web site.
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ClinicalTrials.gov
is a service of the U. S. National Institutes of Health. The site’s “Glossary of Clinical Trials Terms” clarifies the many words and phrases you may hear when participating in a clinical trial.
CenterWatch
provides background information on clinical trials. Learn how experimental drugs are tested in humans and who pays for clinical trial research.
MedlinePlus
provides a thorough overview of what clinical trials entail. Find tutorials, journal articles, law and policy issues and more.
Joining a clinical trial
Clinical trials can spur great medical progress in the treatment of a condition, but they are not without their risks to participants. Use the Web sites in this section for help making your decision about whether to participate in a clinical trial.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Health-related message boards like those provided by MedicineNet.com may be useful for soliciting opinions from others about whether to participate in clinical trials. Remember, though, that your physician is the best authority to help you make this decision.
- Researchers long assumed that men and women respond similarly to treatments derived from clinical trials. Now they’re finding that’s not always the case, and that better representation in clinical trials is necessary.
- Read “The Gift of Participation: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions About Volunteering for a Clinical Trial” for additional thoughts about the benefits of joining a clinical trial.
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For help deciding whether to join a clinical trial …
The Center for Information & Study on Clinical Research Participation
(CISCRP) has several informative articles to help patients decide whether they want to participate in a clinical trial. Read the “Participant’s Bill of Rights” (in PowerPoint format), the latest statistical information on clinical research participation, answers to frequently asked questions about clinical trials, and more.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
explains the potential benefits of volunteering in a clinical trial, the questions that should be asked before you join and other special considerations that need to be taken into account.
Breastcancerprevention.org
presents a list of potential benefits and drawbacks to participating in a clinical trial. While this information specifically discusses why cancer patients may wish to participate in a trial, it can benefit individuals with all kinds of diseases and conditions.
For help talking to your doctor …
The American Cancer Society
has a downloadable worksheet (available in PDF format) that lists questions to ask your doctor as you decide whether to join a clinical trial.
To learn about clinical trial protocol …
WebMD
explains your rights and the principles of informed consent. Informed consent is the process of providing prospective trial volunteers with all necessary information that they must have to make an educated decision about joining a clinical trial.
The National Cancer Institute
describes some of the various statutes, programs and organizations in place to help regulate the clinical trials process and protect its participant volunteers.
Finding Clinical Trials
At any given time, thousands of clinical trials may be taking place around the world, which means finding the right one could take awhile. Narrow your options by using the search tools recommended in this section.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Various medical associations conduct clinical trials. For example, the American Diabetes Association has a page on clinical trials, as does the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
- Some sites, such as CenterWatch, allow readers to sign up for clinical trial updates by e-mail. Look for these options on other trial listing sites to save valuable search time.
Dulcinea's Picks
For directories of clinical trials …
ClinicalTrials.gov
is a directory of federally and privately funded clinical trials in the U.S. and around the world. The site explains who is eligible to participate in a particular trial, and also provides contact information.
SearchClinicalTrials.org
checks multiple Web sites for clinical trials, and provides study results and other pertinent news developments. To follow updates in the clinical research field, see The Participant quarterly newsletters.
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