Research
What is clinical research?
Healthcare facilities conduct research in many disciplines including cardiology, oncology, neurology, infectious disease, orthopaedics, diabetes, and other areas. Advances in health care are possible because of individuals who are willing to volunteer to take part in research.
Why Volunteer for a Research Study?
There are many reasons to participate in a research study, including:
• To help find a better treatment for a condition that you have.
• To help find a cure for other people who are sick.
• To help find ways to provide better care.
• To help scientists find out more about how the human body and mind works.
If you decide to take part in a research study, you do so as a volunteer. If you choose to participate, you have many important rights, which will be explained to you before you begin the study.
Are There Benefits To Being in a Research Study?
There may or may not be a direct benefit to you if you take part in a research study. For example, your health or a health condition you have may get better as a result of your participation in a study, it may stay the same, or it may even get worse. No one can completely predict the outcome of a research study or how it might affect you. The study may not help you personally, but your participation might result in information that will help others in the future.
Are There Risks of Side Effects in Research Studies?
The research staff will discuss with you known possible risks so you can decide if you want to volunteer. If you choose to participate, the research staff will inform you about any new risks that they learn about during the study for as long as you are a participant.
Participating in a research study may have some drawbacks, including:
Research procedures and medications may cause discomfort and/or could have side effects, some of them possibly serious.
The questions being asked could make you uncomfortable.
The risks and side effects of the research may not be known completely when you start the study.
What Should I Ask Before I Agree To Participate in a Research Study?
Before you decide to volunteer to take part in a research study, you need to know as much as possible about it. Ask questions. If there are any issues that concern you, be sure to discuss them. You may want to write your questions down in advance. The following is a list of sample questions. Not every question will apply to every study.
- Who is sponsoring and monitoring this study?
- What question is the study trying to answer?
- Who has reviewed and approved this study?
- Will this research help in understanding my own condition? If so, how?
- Who will be in charge of my care? Will I be able to continue seeing my own doctor?
- What tests or procedures will be done?
- Is it possible that I will receive a placebo or inactive substance?
- Will I have to make extra trips to the hospital?
- What could happen to me, both good and bad, if I agree to volunteer?
- How long will the research study last?
- What will happen to any specimens that I provide?
- Could my condition get worse during the study? What happens if it does?
- What will happen to me at the end of the study?
- Will I be told the results of the study?
- Will I be charged anything or paid anything to participate in this research?
- Who will find out that I am taking part in a study?
- How will my health information be protected?
- If I decide to participate in this study, how will it affect my daily life?
- What other options or choices do I have if I decide not to take part in this study?
- Who do I contact for questions and information about the study?
Many of the questions you might have will be answered during the informed consent process, before you agree to volunteer. Remember, if you do not understand the answer to one of your questions, please ask again and ask the person to explain the answer in a different way. If you forget the answers to your questions during the study, simply ask them again.
What Is Informed Consent?
Informed consent is the process that begins by learning the key facts about a research study before deciding whether or not you want to volunteer. Your agreement to volunteer should be based upon a clear understanding of what the study is for, what will take place, and how it might affect you.
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The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease, or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
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