Questions to ask before participating in a clinical trial

Your doctor or nurse will probably answer most of these when they tell you about the trial.

General questions Back to top

• What is the trial called?
• What is the point of the trial and how will it help people?
• What are the benefits of the trial for me?
• How long is the trial expected to last?
• Can I withdraw from the trial at any time? (The answer to this question should always be yes.)
• How long will it be before the results of the trial are known?

Remember that it may be some time before the results are available. It’s not unusual for trials to take years rather than months. While doctors may see quite soon whether people respond to a new treatment, it will take much longer to see how long the response will last.

Practical questions Back to top

You may also want to ask some practical questions to make sure you’re happy with any demands that the trial will make on you:

• How much of my time will be needed?
• Will I need to take extra time off work?
• Will I need extra help from family and friends?
• Will my fares to and from the trial centre be paid?
• If so, how can I claim the costs back?
• What extra tests or appointments will I have?
• Will I have to collect the drug from the hospital, will it be sent to me by post or will I get it through my GP?
• Will I have to fill in questionnaires or keep a diary? (Sometimes questionnaires are simple tick-box lists; sometimes you can record your answers on audiotape.)
• What are the possible side effects of the treatment?
• How might the treatment affect me physically and emotionally?
• Who can I contact if I have a problem? Will someone be available 24 hours a day?

Criteria Back to top

Clinical trials are often carried out in very specific patient groups. This means that it’s only possible to take part in a trial if you fit the group criteria. For example, the cancer may need to be at a certain stage (where it is in the body and whether it has spread). Your cancer specialist can tell you if you’re suitable for a specific trial.