Patient Guide
Delivering quality care through clinical trials
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are research studies designed to determine if a new treatment is safe and effective. A clinical trial may also compare a new treatment to existing treatments to assess which one benefits patients the most. These trials are conducted by doctors to evaluate new drugs, medical devices, and procedures, aiming to establish whether a new treatment surpasses the current standard of care. Participants in clinical trials receive the treatment under the supervision of physicians and research staff, while researchers gather data to assess the treatment's effectiveness.
How can I benefit from participating in a clinical trial?
Participating in clinical trials give patients access to promising new treatments before they become widely available, with the potential to improve their health. By volunteering, participants also contribute to advancing medical knowledge and shaping the future of healthcare.
Clinical trials are conducted under strict FDA oversight, along with other regulatory and ethical guidelines, to help ensure participant safety. In fact, every standard treatment available today was once carefully evaluated in clinical trials before becoming part of routine care.
Find an available clinical trial:
Why do clinical trials matter?
Clinical Trials are crucial for developing new treatments and advancing healthcare. They help researchers discover safer, more effective ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and other conditions. Without clinical trials, and the volunteers who participate in them, medical progress would not be possible.
When considering participation in a clinical trial, it is crucial to have a thorough conversation with your physician. Below are some practical concerns and essential questions to guide your discussion:
Understanding the Specific Clinical Trial
- Who is sponsoring the clinical trial?
- What is the objective and purpose of the clinical trial?
- What phase is it in, and what does that mean?
- Why might this treatment be effective?
- Has the treatment been tested before? What were the results?
- How many patients are needed?
- What is the duration?
- Will I be informed of results?
Understanding your Eligibility
- Why is this trial suitable for me?
- What are my options if I don't join?
- Are there other beneficial trials?
Understanding your Potential Benefits and Risks
- What are the possible short- and long-term side effects of the treatment?
- How could it benefit me?
- What are the risks?
- How do the risks of this treatment compare to the risks and benefits of current standard of care?
- How will I assess effectiveness?
Knowing What to Expect During and After the Trial
- What are the requirements and commitments?
- Is hospitalization necessary? For how long?
- What is the frequency of hospital or doctor office visits?
- Who will manage my care?
- What type of long-term follow-up care is part of this study? And monitoring after follow-up care.
- What are the costs of this trial and what does insurance cover? What will I be responsible for covering?
- If I have questions about the trial, whom can I contact?
- If the treatment works for me, can I keep using it after the trial ends?
- What will happen to my medical care if I stop participating in the clinical trial?
To inquire if you're eligible for a clinical trial, contact: clinicaltrials@sluhn.org, call (484) 658-5080, or click here to complete a research inquiry form.
There are many different types of clinical trials and research studies, each designed to answer specific questions and contribute to our understanding of health and disease. The table below outlines the unique role each study type has in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.
| Biorepositories or tissue banks | Manage biological samples like blood or tissue, along with health data, for research to advance medical knowledge and treatments. |
| Prevention trials | Study ways to reduce the risk of developing a disease by testing interventions like medications, vaccines, or lifestyle changes to keep people healthy. |
| Screening trials | Examine new approaches to detect disease. |
| Diagnostic trials | Examine tests or procedures used to identify or diagnose disease. |
| Treatment trials | Tests new or improved ways to treat disease. |
| Economics of care studies | Examine costs, value, and financial impact of healthcare services, treatments, and policies to improve efficiency and patient outcomes. |
| Quality-of-life of Supportive care trials | Test ways to improve comfort, well-being, and daily life for people with chronic or serious illnesses, focusing on symptoms, mental health, and overall care. |
| Genetic studies | Explore how genes influence health and disease, helping researchers understand risks, develop treatments, and personalize medical care. |
| Patient registries | Collect health information from people with a specific condition over time to support research, improve treatments, and enhance patient care. |
It is important to be well-informed and to carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks before participating.
Benefits
- Access to new treatments not yet available to the public.
- Close monitoring and care by a team of healthcare and research professionals.
- Contribution to medical research that may benefit others in the future.
Risks
- The new treatment may not work as expected.
- There may be side effects or risks that are unknown.
- Participation may require more time and effort than standard care.
Participating in a clinical trial involves several important steps, from learning about the study and deciding to take part, to ongoing care and follow-up. This section provides a brief overview of what you can expect throughout your journey.
Informed Consent: You will be given detailed information about the trial, including its purpose, duration, required procedures, and key contacts. The study risks, benefits, and alternative treatments will be reviewed in detail with you. You can decide whether or not to participate, and you can leave the trial at any time for any reason.
Screening: Before joining, you will undergo a screening process to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Participation: During the trial, you will receive the treatment under the supervision of a healthcare team. Your health will be monitored closely, and your experience will be documented.
Follow-Up: The research team will continue to check your health to gather additional study information data on the long-term effects of the treatment.
Q: Who can participate in a clinical trial?
A: Eligibility varies by trial, but participants can be healthy volunteers or patients with a specific illness or condition. Your physician and other clinical research professionals will determine if you are eligible to participate. If you decide to participate, you will be asked to go through a screening process and additional testing may need to be done in order to determine eligibility.
Q: Will I be paid for participating?
A: Some trials offer payment for your time and expenses related to participation, but this varies depending on the study. Be sure to discuss this with the study coordinator or study doctor.
Q: What happens if I want to leave the trial?
A: You can leave the trial at any time for any reason. Your decision to leave will not affect your standard medical care.
Q: How do I find a clinical trial that’s right for me?
A: Speak with your healthcare provider or visit clinical trial registries online to find studies that match your condition.
To inquire if you're eligible for a clinical trial, contact: clinicaltrials@sluhn.org, call (484) 658-5080, or click here to complete a research inquiry form.
