How People Can Find Clinical Trials

Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans participate in clinical trials in hopes of gaining access to the latest, and possibly greatest (but not yet on the market) treatments for various types of illnesses. Clinical trials can vary greatly in what they are designed to do, so be careful to choose one that actually benefits you. Here is what you should know along with some tips for locating a clinical trial near you.

Clinical Trials

A clinical trial is a test or research study of a drug, device or medical procedure using people as the trial subjects. These trials — sponsored by drug companies, doctors, hospitals or the federal government — are conducted to learn whether a new treatment is safe and effective. These new treatments are also unproven, so there may be some risk involved.

All clinical trials have certain eligibility criteria (age, gender, health status, etc.) that you must meet in order to be accepted. Before taking part in a trial, you will be asked to sign an informed consent agreement. You can also leave a study at any time.

Find a Trial

Every year, there are more than 100,000 clinical trials conducted in the U.S. You can find them by asking your doctor, who may be monitoring trials in his or her specialty. You can also look for them on your own at ClinicalTrials.gov. This website, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, contains a comprehensive database of federally and privately supported clinical studies in the U.S. and abroad on a wide range of diseases and conditions. The website includes information about each trial's purpose, who may participate, locations and phone numbers.

If you want some help finding the right trial, try ResearchMatch, a web-based resource created by Vanderbilt University that connects willing patients with researchers of clinical trials. Alternatively, check out the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation. This organization will conduct a thorough clinical trials search for you and mail or email you the results within a week or two. Call 877-633-4376 for assistance. Those with dementia and their caregivers can also locate clinical trials at the Alzheimer's Association TrialMatch.

Things to Know

Before deciding to participate in a trial, you need to first discuss it with your doctor to make sure it is appropriate for you. Then, schedule an appointment with the study's medical team and ask a variety of questions, such as:

• What is the purpose of the study and can it improve my condition?
• What are the risks?
• What kinds of tests and treatments does the study involve, and how often and where are they performed?
• Is the experimental treatment in the study being compared with a standard treatment or a placebo?
• Who is paying for the study? Will I have any costs, and if so, will my insurance plan or Medicare cover the rest?
• What if something goes wrong during or after the trial and I need extra medical care? Who will cover those costs?

For more information on clinical trials for older adults visit the National Institute on Aging at nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials. This website has many informative articles including one titled "Questions to Ask Before Participating in a Clinical Trial."

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.