Your 1^st visit will vary with the type of study you’re trying to qualify for.  In some cases, you can expect some of the following to be conducted to see if you qualify for the research study:

 

¨     Consent Form (ALL STUDIES)

¨     Medical history review

¨     Go over current medications

¨     Check height/weight

¨     Vital signs

¨     Physical Exam

¨     Blood draw/s

¨     ECG

¨     Urine test: pregnancy or drug

¨    Patient stipend (payment)

 

As a patient volunteer, your health will continue to be monitored during and after the trial. 

 

       Clinical Research Trial      vs.        Doctor Visit

The research coordinator’s goal is to learn about your illness.	Your doctor’s goal is to treat your condition.
The researcher coordinator must use standardized procedures. You will probably be removed from the study if your illness worsens.	Your doctor will change your treatment as necessary.
You will be randomly assigned to a group taking a standard treatment or placebo, also known as an inactive pill (control group), or a group taking a new treatment (treatment group).	Your doctor will usually offer standard treatment for your illness.
The results from your participation may help researchers develop new treatments and may be published so that other researchers can learn.	Your treatment is designed to help you, not to help the doctor learn how to treat people with your illness.
In most cases, costs of the study may be covered, and you may receive additional compensation.	You will likely need to pay or use insurance for treatment.
With your permission, researcher coordinators may check in with your doctors to learn about your conditions and past treatments.	Your doctor usually won't share your information with researcher coordinators. (In some cases, he or she may ask permission to share information).