Clinical trials advance medical knowledge and shape the future of patient care. By volunteering to participate in a clinical trial, individuals can take an active role in their own health care, gain early access to innovative treatments and contribute to discoveries that could improve countless lives.
Medical professionals can help patients make informed decisions by explaining the benefits of clinical trial participation. Here are talking points to support those discussions with patients and the community:
1. Access to emerging treatments and exceptional care
Perhaps the most compelling reason to join a clinical trial is the opportunity to receive new treatments before they become widely available. For patients who have exhausted conventional therapies, clinical trials may offer a path forward when options are limited.
Even in trials that include a placebo group, which is not always the case, every participant receives careful monitoring and exceptional care throughout the study. In some cases, after the study’s completion, participants who were assigned to the placebo group may gain access to the treatment if it proves effective and receives regulatory approval.
2. Savings and sponsor-funded resources
Clinical trial sponsors often cover the cost of study-related procedures, diagnostics and therapies, which can help significantly reduce participants’ financial barriers to treatment.
Depending on the trial, participants may receive access to resources, such as:
- Advanced imaging, such as MRIs
- Telehealth visits
- Support from registered dietitians
- Health monitoring tools (e.g., glucose meters)
- Coverage for travel expenses
- Smartphones or tools for daily journaling
3. Personalized care and support
Clinical trial participants receive individualized attention from a dedicated team of medical and research professionals. This heightened level of care can lead to better health outcomes and strong partnerships between patients and the care team.
4. Advancing medicine
By volunteering for a clinical trial, participants play an essential role in the development of new and improved medications, treatments, devices and standards of care that could improve millions of lives. Many of today’s treatment options, therapies and cures could not have been achieved without clinical trials.
Clinical trials at Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center
Patients and community members can call 304-388-9944 to learn whether they may qualify for a clinical trial at CAMC.
For information about the CAMC Clinical Trials Center and CAMC Cancer Research Center, visit camcmedicine.edu/ClinicalTrials.