What are the potential drawbacks of participating in a clinical trial?
• The drug or treatment may not be effective for you. • If the study includes the use of a placebo drug or so-called sugar pill, you have a chance of receiving that instead of the active drug or treatment. • You may experience side effects from medications or treatments. • It takes more of your time and effort than standard treatments prescribed by your regular doctor. Conducting a clinical trial is a complex and expensive undertaking for its sponsor and for the research staff that implements it. Participation is a significant commitment for each person who enrolls. Being in a study can stir many emotions all the way from hope to stress, and often leads to new friendships with others in the trial. So why do we conduct clinical trials at the Parkinson Center of Oregon? We in the clinical research staff at the PCO are committed to bringing help for today and hope for tomorrow to those with movement disorders. We value the participation of everyone who volunteers because we could not do o
• You may find that the drug or treatment is not effective for you. • You may not receive the treatment being studied (see “placebos and controls”). • You may experience side effects or adverse reactions to medications or treatments. • You may be required to visit a physician and undergo evaluations more often than you would otherwise. Who conducts a clinical trial? Clinical trials are typically sponsored by government agencies (such as the National Institutes of Health), and by biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies that develop new drugs and treatments. Clinical trials take place at a variety of investigative sites such as hospitals, medical centers, and doctors’ offices. As a participant, your contact is the healthcare provider (investigator) at the investigative site. What does clinical trial “phase” mean? Before any drug, device or treatment is tested in humans, it is tested in animals. This is done to ensure the basic safety of the treatment. No treatment is
