Many types of clinical trials, including surgical interventions and devices, are studied to optimize treatment success. For example, it could be a diagnostic test, which helps care providers diagnose a particular cancer earlier, or supportive treatment to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy. Moreover, there are treatment trials where care providers look at different types of drugs. At Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, LLC, doctors introduce the patients to the concept of clinical trials in Flemington at the very beginning. Doctors discuss every single process that is involved in a particular clinical trial with the patient.
What patients need to know before participating in clinical trials.
Clinical trials happen in three phases. Phase one includes a small number of patients. Phase two with the most significant, while phase three is multi-institutional.
There are several questions that a patient should ask their doctor if they are thinking about a clinical trial. Firstly, if a provider does offer clinical trials, they should ask what clinical trials are available to them. In addition, they should be asking what the purpose of the clinical trial is and what the risks and benefits are to them. A few other things that a patient might want to think about before participating in a clinical trial are who sponsored the clinical trial, who approved the clinical trial, what their responsibility might be, and whether or not they will need to stay in a hospital during the clinical trial.
Are clinical trials safe?
There are several safety features built into how providers watch over the effects of clinical trials. Most clinics have an institutional review board or an IRB, which follows the patients through the hallway, monitoring them closely to ensure safety. For that reason, a research nurse and a clinical coordinator are specific to them. They follow them through every step of the process. They expressly understand all the aspects of the protocol.
The research staff also ensures that all appointments are convenient so that the patient does not need to worry about calling multiple numbers.
When patients decide whether or not to go on a clinical trial, it must be convenient for them to get their treatment. Therefore, they must go to a place where they have all services available. A safety review board is a group of physicians who watch closely over patient care, ensuring no adverse events.
Must you complete your clinical trial process?
Whenever patients become involved in a clinical trial, informed consent is required. However, people who volunteer to participate need to remember that it is a voluntary process; they can exit the clinical trial at any time- there will be no ramifications for them. They will continue to get standard of care therapy, and the doctors will support them and make sure they get the care they need and deserve at any point in time, whether they choose to stay on the clinical trial or not.
Contact Hunterdon Hematology Oncology, LLC to learn more about what to expect from cancer clinical trials.
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