Clinical Trials: What You Need to Know
Clinical trials test how well treatments, drugs, or devices work and whether they’re safe for people.
They move in phases: Phase 1 checks safety in a small group, Phase 2 looks for early signs of effectiveness, Phase 3 compares the new option to standard care in larger groups, and Phase 4 tracks long term effects after approval.
Not every trial is about pills. Trials can test medical devices, lifestyle programs, or new ways to use an existing drug. Knowing the type helps you judge what the study might mean for real life.
How to find and evaluate trials
Start at ClinicalTrials.gov or your country’s registry and search by condition, location, or drug name. University hospitals and major research centers also list open studies on their websites.
When you find a trial, read the inclusion and exclusion criteria carefully. These rules explain who the researchers want, and they tell you if the study applies to your age, health status, or previous treatments.
Check the sponsor and funding. Trials run by universities or government agencies generally focus on science, while industry-funded studies aim to test commercial products. Industry funding doesn’t mean results are bad, but you should note potential conflicts of interest.
What to expect and key safety checks
Consent is a must. You’ll get a plain language consent form that explains procedures, risks, benefits, and your right to leave at any time. Take time to read it and ask questions about anything unclear.
Studies have oversight: an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee approves the plan, and many trials use Data Safety Monitoring Boards to watch for harmful effects. Ask who oversees safety and how adverse events are handled.
Ask about compensation, travel help, and whether you’ll get the experimental treatment after the study ends. Also ask who pays for care if a study-related injury happens.
Know common study terms: randomization means participants are assigned by chance; blinding keeps participants and sometimes staff unaware of the treatment to reduce bias; placebo means an inactive comparator used in some trials.
How to read results: look for primary endpoints (the main outcome), sample size, and whether the trial was randomized and blinded. A statistically significant result may still be small in real benefit, so check absolute differences and side effect rates.
Joining a trial can give access to new therapies and close medical monitoring, but it may not help you directly. Talk honestly with your doctor about risks, alternatives, and how a trial fits your goals.
If you want more practical guides and reviews of medicines tested in trials, browse our clinical trials tag for easy-to-read articles, buying guides, and plain answers about treatments and safety.
Before joining, ask how long the study lasts, how many visits are required, and who has access to your medical data. Find out whether results will be shared with participants and how privacy is protected. If travel is hard, ask about virtual visits or local lab options to reduce burden.