People are living longer than ever thanks to advances in the treatment of diseases such as cancer. The participation of millions of people in clinical trials makes such medical breakthroughs possible. These are trials to identify new drugs, studies to determine if a product is safe and effective. Deciding to join a clinical trial is not easy for most people. That's why we're here to dispel some common misconceptions about clinical trials.
Participating in a clinical trial does not benefit the participant
Clinical trials offer patients new forms of treatment. Studies with a clinical research network show that patients also do better in clinical trials. In some cases, participation in clinical trials is a last resort because there are no other options or other treatments have proven ineffective. However, clinical trials often focus on improving or modifying standard treatments to improve patients' quality of life.
Participation in clinical trials is offered to patients at all stages of the disease. Clinical trials are an important step in the exploration of new treatments as well as new methods for detecting diseases, diagnosing them and reducing their risks. Participants receive specialized care supervised by experts in the field, and the costs are covered, representing savings for the health system.
Trial participants are guinea pigs
Before being approved for use, drugs must undergo extensive clinical trials to ensure their effectiveness. All clinical trials are designed to answer very specific questions and follow a strict protocol known as the Participant Safety Protocol. Investigational compounds undergo extensive laboratory testing before beginning clinical trials on volunteers. By setting strict eligibility criteria, we exclude those who may be prone to complications.
Clinical research is closely monitored. In addition, participants can stop the trial at any time. Before participating, the patient receives detailed information about the test : its purpose, duration and tasks. Before participating in the trial, the candidate must understand and agree to these terms, which is called informed consent.