What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are sometimes thought of as a last resort, for people who have run out of treatment options. But enrolling in a clinical trial may also present patients with the opportunity to receive promising new treatments.
Clinical trials are conducted to help determine if new drugs, treatments, or medical devices are effective and safe. (Clinical trials are sometimes also referred to as Medical Research Studies.) Most of the amazing drugs we now take for serious diseases were once clinical trial drugs. Clinical trials are also conducted to compare existing treatments to see which are more effective; compare delivery methods and side effects; determine how a treatment will affect different people, such as children. There are different types of clinical trials: Prevention Trials; Diagnostic Trials; Screening Trials; Treatment Trials; Quality Of Life Trials. Trials are divided into four phases, Phase I – Phase IV, each phase with its own purpose in the process of the trial.
Is a clinical trial right for you or your loved one?
Patients often have misconceptions about clinical trials that could influence their decision to participate. Dana-Farber, in collaboration with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, has produced an audiovisual program and educational booklet to dispel these misconceptions. Using their own words, patients and clinicians explain what clinical trials are and offer suggestions to help patients decide whether or not to enroll in a study.
Watch it here: http://www.dana-farber.org/Health-Library/Entering-a-clinical-trial–Is-it-right-for-you-.aspx
Why participate in a clinical trial? What are the benefits and risks?
Mayo Clinic: http://clinicaltrials.mayo.edu/faq.cfmMayo Clinic: “Clinical Trials: A change to try new therapies: https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/clinical-trials/DI00033
Find a clinical trial in your area, and/or for a particular illness or disease:
Clinical Trials.gov – search for clinical trials: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search
National Cancer Institute – search for clinical trials: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search
Dana Farber Cancer Institute Clinical Trials: http://www.dana-farber.org/Research/Clinical-Trials.aspx
Mayo Clinic Clinical Trials: http://clinicaltrials.mayo.edu/
M.D. Anderson Clinical Trials:
http://www.mdanderson.org/patient-and-cancer-information/cancer-information/clinical-trials/clinical-trials-at-md-anderson/index.html
UCLA Clinical Trials: http://clinicaltrials.ucla.edu/
