Guide
Questions to ask before you join a study
The study team expects questions, and good studies welcome them. Here are the ones worth asking before you sign anything, grouped by topic. You can also build a printable checklist.
About the study
- What is the study trying to find out?
- Which phase is it, and what's known about the treatment so far?
- Who is running and paying for the study?
- Has it been approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?
What's involved
- How long will I be in the study?
- How many visits are there, how long is each one, and where are they?
- Which tests and procedures will I have?
- Could I get a placebo instead of the treatment?
Risks and benefits
- What are the possible side effects and risks?
- Could I benefit from taking part?
- What other treatment options do I have?
- What happens if I'm harmed during the study?
Costs and payment
- Will I be paid, and how and when?
- Which costs does the study cover, and what goes to my insurance? See Does Medicare or insurance cover clinical trial costs?
- Are travel and parking costs paid back?
Your care and rights
- Can I keep seeing my own doctor?
- Who do I call if I have a problem, day or night?
- What happens if I want to leave?
- Will I find out the results when the study ends?
- Can I keep taking the treatment after the study if it works for me?
Read more: Informed consent and your rights · What happens at a screening visit
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