Looking into clinical trials and why they are important in the healthcare industry.

1. Clinical Trials
WHY WE NEED THEM

2. What Are Clinical Trials?
 Clinical trials are research enquiries which explore
whether a medical approach, medication or apparatus
is safe and effective for use in humans.
 They may also be commissioned to test which medical
strategy is most successful when treating a particular
symptom or control group e.g. age category or
ethnicity.
 Without clinical trials it would not be possible to gather
information vital to the development of new drugs.

3. Who Can Participate?
 Anyone can take part in a clinical trial it simply depends
on the type of research being undertaken.
 You do not have to be a certain age or unwell to be a
participant in clinical research.
 Some studies will only require a short questionnaire about
your nutrition, exercise habits, lifestyle and other
medications.
 Other trials require more extensive information such as
levels of exposure to a certain pathogen which may
require a blood sample and/or other tests.

4. What Do They Involve?
 During a clinical trial, researchers will give participants
precise interventions according to their particular
examination scheme.
 These interventions could be a proposed medication,
procedure, device, or change to a volunteer’s lifestyle
such as the amount they exercise daily.
 They may examine the efficacy of new drugs by testing
them against current medications, placebos or non-
intervention.
 They could also compare the effects of certain existing
medications and their outcomes.

5. Why Are They Important?
 Clinical trial services contribute significantly to medical
knowledge.
 The outcome of these medical enquiries can improve
the future health of patients by providing information on
the advantages and shortcomings of preventative,
diagnostic, or healing products or interventions.
 Clinical trials form the basis of the research,
development and prescription of new medications,
biological products and medical devices.

6. Considerations For Volunteers
 If you are considering taking part in a clinical trial, it is essential to
do your research and find out as much as you can about the study
and what is involved beforehand. Some important concerns are:
• What is being studied?
• What is the intervention?
• What is the intervention
being tested for?
• How will it be administered?
• Why do the researchers
believe it will be effective?
• What are the possible side
effects/ risks?
• Will you be able to continue
the intervention if it is
beneficial?
• What will be required of
you?
• How long will you have to
be at the clinic or hospital?
• Will you need to return
multiple times?
• Will you be paid and who
will reimburse you?
• Will other expenses be
covered?
• What are your options if
something goes wrong?