What are the Benefits of Joining a Clinical Trial?

What are the Benefits of Joining a Clinical Trial?

If you've ever considered participating in a clinical trial, you may have questions about what it involves and whether it's the right choice for you. It’s important to consider the possible risks and benefits. By participating in a clinical trial, you're not only contributing to medical research but also potentially benefiting from an innovation that could improve your physical and mental well-being.

Additional medical attention and monitoring

Participants in a clinical trial are under the care of a team of medical professionals dedicated to ensuring their safety and well-being throughout the study. This means that participants in clinical trials often receive more frequent and comprehensive medical evaluations, including physical exams, lab tests, and imaging.

Reduced healthcare costs

Clinical trials often provide medical evaluations at no cost and compensation for time and travel expenses, which can help offset any costs associated with participating in the trial. In addition, the experimental treatments being tested may be more effective and have fewer side effects than standard approved treatments.

Participants in clinical trials are closely monitored for any potential side effects or complications. If a participant experiences adverse effects, the medical team can intervene quickly to provide or arrange for appropriate care and support. This level of monitoring and care is not always available in standard medical practice, where participants may not receive such close attention or where side effects may be missed or not addressed in a timely manner.

Access to new care options

Participants in clinical trials can often obtain novel and cutting-edge experimental therapies that are unavailable to the general public. These treatments are in the process of undergoing comprehensive testing to collect data about their safety and effectiveness, and clinical trial patients may be among the first to receive their benefits. Sometimes the remedy offered in clinical trials may be more potent or have fewer side effects than the conventional FDA-approved treatments currently accessible to the public. Successful clinical trials benefit everyone involved. If you're interested in learning more, talk to your doctor or visit findyourclinicaltrial.com.

Mankato Clinic has partnered with Javara to bring clinical research close to home. Javara research teams work on location and alongside your trusted Mankato Clinic physicians and staff.

KATIE SMENTEK, MD MANKATO CLINIC CHILDREN’S HEALTH CENTER

Listen to the KTOE Talk of the Town Podcast with Dr. Katie Smentek, pediatrician and clinical research principal investigator. https://share.transistor.fm/s/9bee4311

To learn more about clinical research, visit www.mankatoclinic.com/resources/clinical-research