Reasons to Participate in Clinical Trials

Why Join a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials cannot happen without clinical trial participants. But what drives people to volunteer their time and effort in a clinical trial?

Reasons Why People Join Clinical Trials

You want to help others like you.

In a 2019 survey of more than 3,000 clinical trial participants conducted by the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), the top reasons people gave for taking part in a clinical trial were to

• Help advance science and the treatment of their disease or condition (43%)
• Help others who shared their disease/condition (35%)

By joining a clinical trial, you not only help sponsors learn if an investigational treatment works – you help them learn if it works for someone like you. Many factors can affect how well a treatment works, including a patient’s age, sex, and racial and ethnic background. Diversity and representation in clinical trials help ensure that a treatment – once approved – will benefit all patients.

You learned about a clinical trial from your doctor.

Clinical trial sponsors often inform health care providers about new trials so that providers can help connect patients with trials that might be right for them.

You are looking for access to high-quality care.

Some people join clinical trials to have access to doctors and medical care they might not have otherwise. Clinical trials for a specific disease or condition are often run by specialists who are experts in that field. Clinical trials also follow strict research protocols that must be approved before the clinical trial starts. These protocols prioritize participant safety, avoid unnecessary risk, and ensure participants get the medical care they need.

You are looking for access to potential new treatments.

The goal of many clinical trials is to learn whether an investigational treatment offers advantages over currently available treatments. These advantages may include greater improvements in managing symptoms, fewer side effects, or a more convenient treatment. While there is no guarantee that joining a clinical trial will improve your outcomes, many people join a clinical trial because they are looking for an investigational treatment option that they cannot find anywhere else.

You are looking for a chance to learn more about your health.

In the 2019 CISCRP survey, almost one-third (29%) of clinical trial participants said they joined a trial to learn about their treatment and improve their health. Clinical trial participants can learn more about their diagnosis and their treatment options. Some clinical trials also offer education and lifestyle changes that might help manage symptoms.

Financial reasons.

Many sponsors cover costs of participation, including medical care, hospital stays, and travel to the trial site. Healthy volunteers might be paid to take part in clinical trials that are testing the safety of an investigational treatment for the first time.

People also ask:

What are the benefits and risks of a clinical trial?

Clinical trials offer potential benefits, but they also have risks. When deciding whether to join, it is important that you weigh both carefully.

Potential benefits:

• You might get a new, investigational treatment before it becomes widely available
• You get more comprehensive health monitoring and high-quality medical care
• You contribute to medical research and improve future treatment options

Potential risks:

• The investigational treatment may not be better, or could even be worse, than current ones
• There may be unpleasant, serious, or currently unknown side effects
• You might be in the control group and not get the investigational treatment
• Extra tests and procedures can be bothersome and invasive

Each clinical trial is different, so the risks and benefits will vary. Sponsors take steps to make the study as safe as possible. They also offer support if new risks come up during the trial.

Thoroughly discussing benefits and risks with your medical team can help you decide if joining is right for you.

The decision to join a clinical trial is a personal one. The key is to make sure you have all the information. If you are interested in taking part in a clinical trial, take the time to learn about the clinical trial. Ask yourself:

• What are the potential benefits?
• What are the risks?
• What does that mean for me?

Talk to your doctor and someone from the clinical trial site to help answer these questions and see if the clinical trial is right for you. Talk to others you trust with matters of healthcare, like a family member or friend.

Learn more about the benefits and risks of taking part in a clinical trial.

What if I change my mind after I join?

Taking part in a clinical trial is 100% voluntary. Participants can choose to leave a clinical trial at any time for any reason – or for no reason at all.

Find an Astellas Clinical Trial Near You

Search Astellas Clinical Trials to see if any might be a match for you or for someone you care about.