You would likely have heard about clinical trials and signing up for them. There are a lot of opinions on clinical trials, which might be because many people are not adequately educated about them and their purpose. So, the question now becomes, what do you think about clinical trials?
Because of Covid-19, we have heard more about clinical trials because they were done for the currently administered vaccines. The reality is that clinical trials have been in existence for a long time. It’s important to know what clinical trials are and why they are so needed in healthcare. If not, the negative opinions will continue to circulate.
So, let’s get right into it!
What Is A Clinical Trial?
The definition of a clinical trial is a research study involving human volunteers who help researchers evaluate medical products such as medications, vaccines, or devices for effectiveness. I know that was a lot to take in, but think about it like this: Clinical trials involve:
- Researchers (who are always professionals in their industry),
- Participants/Volunteers (usually people who volunteer to participate whether they have a disease, symptom, or do not have what is being treated. Even healthy individuals can participate.)
- The Medical Product (this can either be a medication, device, or vaccine)
When it comes to understanding clinical trials, it is essential to know that they are a part of the clinical research process. For example, every medication you take or device you use goes through a process that ensures that it works effectively and as intended, and that is essentially the goal. These trials are there to ensure that medical products are effective and safe. Without clinical trials, we would have people using products that are harmful to them, and that would be a major problem.
The 4 Phases of Clinical Trials
In order to get to the point that a medication is sold at a pharmacy, a vaccine is given, or a medical device is used, it must pass all 4 stages of the clinical trial process. So, let’s run through these.
Questions asked in each Phase:
Phase 1:
1.Is the treatment safe? 2.How much is needed & how should it be taken? 3.Are there any side effects?
Phase 2:
1.How well does the treatment work? 2.Is it safe & what are the potential side effects?
3.How much is needed? 4.Are there any new side effects?
Phase 3:
1.How well does the treatment work overtime? 2.Is it safe & how much is needed?
3.Are there any new side effects? 4.Does the treatment work better than any existing treatment or the placebo?
Before moving on to phase 4, the FDA must approve the product.
Phase 4:
1.How well does the treatment work overtime? 2.Does it work well for all types of people? 3.Are there any new side effects? 4.Can it work to treat other diseases?
Benefits of Trials: What's in it for You?
Now that you understand how it works and the entire process required for a clinical trial, let’s keep talking. Volunteering for a clinical trial is needed because that is the only way the process to advance treatment can get off the ground. With that being said, when it comes to talking about clinical trials, there is a negative stigma toward volunteering. Off the bat, many consider being a volunteer equal to being a guinea pig or using themselves as an experiment.
Yes, the reality is that volunteers are lending themselves by offering their time, following guidelines, and providing important health information for the betterment of science. But this is not a bad thing. In fact, this gets us into one of the benefits of clinical trials; that is, it’s another way to get healthcare. If you pay attention to each trial phase, you’ll notice that the group of people participating changes just a little in each stage. The 1st phase starts with a group of healthy people. Experienced, board-certified doctors see these volunteers, and even though they might not have the condition being studied, they still receive proper medical care at no cost to the participants.
If you continue through the rest of the phases, you will notice that it changes from healthy volunteers to those with the condition. In this case, the benefit is getting the latest treatment for their condition as soon as possible.
So, it’s important to understand that volunteers are not guinea pigs. They are genuinely doing something good for millions of people who may one day use the medication, vaccine, or medical device
AIH's Partnership With CHN
AIH, also known as Advances in Health, is in partnership with CHN (Community Health Network). The goal is to provide quality whole person care to their patients by eliminating financial barriers that some patients will face when searching for the latest treatments. AIH’s way of providing access to healthcare innovation to this group is by giving them the opportunity to participate in clinical trials.
We have been at the forefront of pharmaceutical and medical device research for over twenty years. We understand that giving participants the opportunity to participate in ongoing clinical trials allows them to receive the most current treatment and help others. Thankfully we have several areas that we focus on such as general, prenatal, women’s, men’s, and pediatric clinical trials.
Take the time to visit AIH Research and check out our trials that might fit you.
Bottom Line: Why You Should Participate in Clinical Trials
With all this information, you might still be thinking, “Are clinical trials something I should consider?” I can’t tell you whether you should or should not volunteer, but It’s important to be informed and to know the facts. By participating in clinical trials you:
- Take a more active role in your own health care.
- Gain access to new treatments that are not available to the public.
- Get expert medical care at leading health care facilities.
- Help others by contributing to medical research.
- Receive treatment that, in the end, works for you.
- Compensation for time and other expense may be received.
