Risks
The nature of the risks depends on the kind of study Often, clinical studies pose the risk of only minor discomfort that lasts for a short time For example, in some mental health studies, participants take psychological tests; this is obviously a different kind of risk from undergoing surgery as part of a study A participant in a study requiring surgery may risk greater complications Risk can occur in many different ways, and it is important to speak with the research team to understand the risks in a particular study
Keep in mind that all research sites are required to review their studies for any possible harm, and to share any potential risks with study volunteers Possible risks include the following:
The treatment involved may have health risks for you, such as
unwanted side effects The study may require more time and attention than standard treatment You may need to visit the study site, take additional blood tests, stay in the hospital, or manage complex dosage requirements for medication The treatment may not make you or other participants better You may enroll in the study hoping to receive a new treatment, but you may be randomly assigned to receive a standard treatment or placebo (inactive pill) Whether a new treatment will work cannot be known ahead of time There is always a chance that a new treatment may not work better than a standard treatment, may not work at all, or may be harmful The treatment you receive may cause side effects that are serious enough to require medical attention
The nature of the risks depends on the kind of study Often, clinical studies pose the risk of only minor discomfort that lasts for a short time For example, in some mental health studies, participants take psychological tests; this is obviously a different kind of risk from undergoing surgery as part of a study A participant in a study requiring surgery may risk greater complications Risk can occur in many different ways, and it is important to speak with the research team to understand the risks in a particular study
Keep in mind that all research sites are required to review their studies for any possible harm, and to share any potential risks with study volunteers Possible risks include the following:
The treatment involved may have health risks for you, such as
unwanted side effects The study may require more time and attention than standard treatment You may need to visit the study site, take additional blood tests, stay in the hospital, or manage complex dosage requirements for medication The treatment may not make you or other participants better You may enroll in the study hoping to receive a new treatment, but you may be randomly assigned to receive a standard treatment or placebo (inactive pill) Whether a new treatment will work cannot be known ahead of time There is always a chance that a new treatment may not work better than a standard treatment, may not work at all, or may be harmful The treatment you receive may cause side effects that are serious enough to require medical attention
