Health Research and Clinical Trials - How to Get Involved in the Process?

The 2007 Ig Nobel Price in Aviation went to Patricia Agostino, Santiago Plano and Diego Golombek of Universidad Nacional de Quilmes in Argentina. Their research led to the discovery that sildenafil helps treat jet lag in hamsters. No one has understood why treating jet lag in hamsters is important.

What may be even more amazing is that someone actually did a clinical investigation to see if sildenafil would benefit the hamsters. For anyone that doesn’t know already, Sildenafil is the fancy, medical term for Viagra

Research experience is an important part of the overall development of a medical student and boosts the attractiveness of a residency application. Most of the competitive residency programs have the luxury of selecting from applicants who have all the desired elements, and this has created an over-the-top rush for med students wishing to get into research.

But what’s the regular person, who wants to get involved in clinical trials, to do? Fist, understand some basics.

What is A Clinical Study?

A clinical study is a procedure involving research on human volunteers or participants; that is meant to increase the growing body of medical understanding. Two kinds of clinical studies are common:

Clinical trials — also known as interventional studies, and Observational studies

Clinical Trials

In clinical trials, individuals get precise interventions in line with the protocol designed by the researchers. These interventions might be pharmaceutical products — drugs and devices; methods; or modifications to the participant’s behavior — such as food intake. Clinical studies may match a fresh therapeutic advance to one already available. Some cases relate interventions, previously available, to each other. When a new product is studied, it is not typically known if it will be effective, dangerous or whether any difference will be noticed. The researchers attempt to find out the safety levels as well as the efficiency of the new intercession.

Observational Studies

In observational studies, researchers review health results in a group of participating in a pre-determine research protocol. Participants might get interventions which include medications or equipment, or methods as part of their routine and regular medical care. Regardless, members are not specified to the precise methodology by the researcher as they are in a clinical trial.

Where Conducted?

Clinical studies take place in many locales including hospitals, universities, and physician offices. The location depends largely on who is doing the study.

Last How Long?

The length of a study will vary. It all depends on what is being studied. Despite the variation, participants are always told how long the study will last before they join.

Participating in Clinical Studies

Clinical trials are administered according to a procedure identified by the protocol. The protocol is meant to answer precise questions and guard the health of each participant and includes the following data:

• Rationale for administering the study

• Acceptability criteria — who may take part

• Quantity of participants required

• Testing schedule

• Study length

Who Can Join?

Studies have outlines and standards concrning who can take part. Called eligibility criteria, the standards are found in the protocol. While some studies look for associates who have the afflictions that will be explored, others seek strong and stable participants. Still, some are limited to a planned group of people.

Qualification

“Inclusion criteria” is the term which refers to the factors that allow someone to participate. Inclusion criteria are also the items that may disqualify someone. The criteria are based on characteristics including age, gender and type affliction as well as the stage of a disease.

Consideration for Being Included

Participating in a particular research helps to expand medical information. The studies’ results may produce a variation in the treatment of subjects by providing data about the benefits and risks of preventative, or diagnostic, products or interventions.

Clinical trials provide the foundation for developing and selling of new products, drugs, and devices. Often, the safety and the efficiency of the method or technique may not be fully known at the time of the test. Some trials often provide participants with the chance of getting medical benefits and other studies do not. Most studies include a level of risk of injury, though it may not be higher than the risk associated with conventional medicinal care.

Numerous trials expect participants to go through examinations and evaluations which are determined by the study’s protocol. The requirements are outlined in the informed consent documents, and any potential participation should also review the concerns of research team members.

Questions to Ask

Anyone with a desire to participate in a clinical study should take the time to learn as much as possible about the research as well as feeling comfortable asking questions about procedures and expenses. Some questions to ask during the discussion include:

• What is being studied?

• Why to the study leaders feel the intervention being tested may be effective?

• How will the interventions received be determined?

• What will be required?

• What procedures are required?

• What is the length of the study?

• Who pays for participation?

• What if you are injured during the study?

How to Get Involved

Participation in a clinical study first depends on finding the right study. There are many sites online that list ongoing and current studies. One of the largest is the government-sponsored site, ClinicalTrials.gov.

The database of trials looking for participants can be sorted by:

Conditions

Rare diseases

Drug interventions

Dietary supplements

Sponsor

Locations

And other criteria

Not for Everyone

Participation in clinical trials is not for everyone. Some people have work commitments that preclude active participation; others have child care issues. But for people who fit a particular trial’s criteria, it can be a great way to pick up a few dollars while helping push medical knowledge forward.