• Topic
• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Why people may not be eligible to join a trial >> Why people may not be eligible to join a trial

Why people may not be eligible to join a trial

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Difficulties finding a trial to join >> Difficulties finding a trial to join

Difficulties finding a trial to join

• Clip
• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Not taking part in a trial >> Gill - Interview 10 >> She assumed her local hospital would have plenty of research going on she could join, but when she asked there was nothing suitable for her.

Gill discovered she had breast cancer in 2007. She would have liked to take part in a trial to help other women with breast cancer in future, but none was available.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Long term conditions >> Sarah - Interview 38 >> Sarah wouldn’t take part in another trial involving anything invasive. She started a trial of lipids medication, but was disappointed to learn she was

Sarah volunteered for a placebo-controlled trial of a drug intended to help women at risk of osteoporosis. It involved daily injections and eventually she dropped out of the trial. (You can see Sarah talking more about her experiences on the healthtalkonline site osteoporosis, Interview 27).

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Screening, prevention other medical interventions >> Sabiha - Interview 19 >> As a diabetic, she knew she was at risk from high cholesterol. She was glad to learn her cholesterol levels were too low to join the trial, but disapp

Sabiha took part in a trial of breast screening for younger women (under 50). More recently she volunteered for a trial of cholesterol-lowering drugs but was not eligible because her cholesterol level was too low.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Cancer - Non-randomised studies >> Tom - Interview 14 >> Tom believes a public website listing available trials and eligibility criteria would be a good idea. But he knows some doctors disagree, and thinks s

Tom took part in a phase 2 trial of a new chemotherapy drug for lung cancer in 1993. Without the trial, the only other option at the time would have been palliative radiotherapy.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Not taking part in a trial >> Charles - Interview 29 >> Charles volunteered for a trial involving prostate cancer testing. He was pleased to discover he was at low risk, as he thinks there is a family histo

Charles volunteered for two trials, but ended up unable to take part in either of them. The first time he did not meet the eligibility criteria. The second time was because of an administrative mix-up about his age, and he feels it was not well handled.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Mental health trials >> Anton - Interview 28 >> Researchers could do more to make it easy for people to volunteer. It’s off-putting when you ring to ask about a trial and you get an answerphone.

Anton has a long history of depression and has volunteered for several different trials in mental health, including trials of talking therapies as well as drug trials.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Not taking part in a trial >> Charles - Interview 29 >> He volunteered for another trial, testing a nasal inhaler for erectile dysfunction. He checked at the first appointment that he was in the eligible ag

Charles volunteered for two trials, but ended up unable to take part in either of them. The first time he did not meet the eligibility criteria. The second time was because of an administrative mix-up about his age, and he feels it was not well handled.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Not taking part in a trial >> Charles - Interview 29 >> After a lengthy second appointment, an administrator spotted that he had just turned 66, so he was told he was ineligible. He felt it was badly handle

Charles volunteered for two trials, but ended up unable to take part in either of them. The first time he did not meet the eligibility criteria. The second time was because of an administrative mix-up about his age, and he feels it was not well handled.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Mental health trials >> Anton - Interview 28 >> Anton does not take no for an answer and will go to great lengths to persuade staff to include him in a trial, even if he does not meet the eligibilit

Anton has a long history of depression and has volunteered for several different trials in mental health, including trials of talking therapies as well as drug trials.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Not taking part in a trial >> Charles - Interview 29 >> Now Charles is on a research unit database he hears about other relevant trials, but many people must get missed and GPs are probably selective in wha

Charles volunteered for two trials, but ended up unable to take part in either of them. The first time he did not meet the eligibility criteria. The second time was because of an administrative mix-up about his age, and he feels it was not well handled.

• Medical research >> Clinical Trials >> Long term conditions >> Danny - Interview 26 >> When it was discovered her summer holiday clashed with the next trial appointment, Danny was told she might be excluded. The word ‘excluded’ made her

Danny joined a trial of high blood pressure medication, but stopped because of side effects. She has concerns about the way some staff communicated with her and a lack of rapport and respect for her as a volunteer interested in her own health.