Frequently Asked Questions

This web page provides information about the clinical trials process and what it means for you to volunteer to participate in a clinical trial.

• Should I Join a Trial? [ answer ]
• What is a Clinical Trial? [ answer ]
• What Can I Expect?
• What Happens After the Trial? [ answer ]

What Can I Expect?
Once you have enrolled in a study, you will receive a physical examination. Your study physician or a research staff member will review your medical history as well. A detailed description of your specific clinical trial and what's expected of you will be outlined in your consent form.

Physicians and healthcare professionals who conduct clinical trials are committed to providing you with quality patient care and medical attention. You should feel free to discuss your medical treatment with your investigator or a research staff member at any time during the course of your clinical trial.

It's important that you take all your medication as prescribed, that you keep all of your scheduled visits, and that you answer your investigator's questions regarding how you feel and whether you've been taking your medication at the scheduled times.

Many study volunteers appreciate the medical attention that they receive when they participate. Your study investigator needs to record any symptoms no matter how minor they may seem to you. If you miss your medication or you haven't taken it on schedule, tell your physician or the research staff. Your input is valuable and important.

When you participate in a clinical trial, complete confidentiality and privacy cannot be guaranteed. Your medical records and your signed consent form will be looked at and even copied for research and regulatory purposes. Information from the study will be given to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to other government agencies in countries where the drug is being considered for approval. The results of the research study may also be presented at meetings or in publications. Your identity will not be disclosed in those presentations.

As a volunteer, you have the right to leave your study at any time and for any reason.

What Happens After the Trial?