Are you thinking about signing up for a clinical trial? If so, you’ve come to the right place if you want to make an informed decision. Joining one can feel overwhelming at first, because there’s so much to learn. Our goal is to make the process easier to understand, so that you can make the best decision for you own health.
Recently, the Patient Advocate Foundation published this list of helpful terms to know when you are considering enrolling into any clinical study. We’ve shared them below for your convenience:
- CLINICAL TRIAL: research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective. If you’re considering participating in a clinical trial, here are some terms you need to know.
- BLIND STUDY: A masked (results are hidden) trial designed to prevent either research team members or study participants from influencing the outcome
- CLINICAL INVESTIGATOR: The medical researcher in charge of carrying out a clinical trial’s protocol
- CONTROL GROUP: The participants that receive the standard treatment of care instead of the treatment being tested by the clinical trial; the standard by which the trial is evaluated
- CROSSOVER TRIAL: When participants receive trial and standard of care treatment, but at different times
- DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY: A masked trial designed to prevent neither research team members or study participants from influencing the outcome
- EFFICACY: A treatment or drug’s ability to produce a beneficial result or successful outcome
- ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Entire criteria for participant selection, including inclusion and exclusion criteria
- EMPIRICAL: Based on observation or experience; not experimental data
- ENDPOINT: Overall outcome the protocol is designed to evaluate
- EXCLUSION / INCLUSION CRITERIA: The standards determining whether a patient can enter a clinical trial
- EXPERIMENTAL DRUG: A drug that has been authorized for use in a clinical trial but not approved by FDA
- INFORMED CONSENT: A document that describes the participant rights and comprehensive details about the study; designed to protect and inform participants and researchers
- PLACEBO: Used in control groups to resemble clinical trial treatment but is actually standard of care treatment
- RANDOMIZATION: Occurs when two or more alternative treatments are randomly assigned to participants
- SINGLE-BLIND STUDY: A study where the subject or patient is unaware of what medication they are taking, while the physician or researcher knows
- TOXICITY: The measure of a treatment-related adverse effect that may be detrimental to the recipient’s health
Still have questions? We understand. Give us a call to discuss at (615) 329-2222.
If you’re ready to sign up for a clinical trial today, fill out the form for the appropriate clinical trial here.
Another topic we frequently discuss is why patients are paid for clinical trials. You can read about that here.