home
a-z of conditions
forums
news
about us
See all conditions
Medical research
Clinical Trials
Forum
Resources & Information
Subject index
Credits
Full list of topics
Finding out about a trial :
What are clinical trials and why do we need them?
Different types of clinical trial
Being asked about taking part in a trial
Information and questions
Difficulties finding a trial to join
Deciding whether to take part – risk and benefits :
Reasons for wanting to take part – personal benefit
Reasons for wanting to take part – helping medical science
Deciding not to take part
Thinking about withdrawing from a trial
Why people may not be eligible to join a trial
Being in a trial :
Feelings about being allocated (randomised) to a treatment group
Feelings about being in a placebo-controlled trial
Blinded trials
Non-randomised trial designs and other studies
Side effects and queries
Time commitment, money and other practical issues
Appointments, monitoring, questionnaires
Communication between different health professionals
At the end of a trial :
Feelings when a trial ends
Feedback of trial results
Other issues :
Attitudes to taking part in another trial
Funding and publishing trials
Public awareness and involvement
Under-researched topics/priorities for other research
Messages to other people
Messages to professionals
Search the whole site
Search in this condition
Clinical Trials
Subject index
Clip
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Phil - Interview 11
>>
Phil explains what the blood pressure trial was comparing and how people were allocated at random to different groups. He felt safe because he knew th
Phil took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. He had some side effects early on, so the medication was changed. He has been very happy with the care provided as part of the trial.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Harry - Interview 07
>>
After the dose of the drug was increased, Harry had bad side effects. He almost gave up, but the senior clinician explained what had happened and enco
Harry took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure. He had some side effects early on, but otherwise has been very happy with his care and how well he feels.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Phil - Interview 11
>>
At the end of the trial participants were invited to a big meeting where the results were presented and explained. It felt very satisfying to be part
Phil took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. He had some side effects early on, so the medication was changed. He has been very happy with the care provided as part of the trial.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Harry - Interview 07
>>
Trials are designed to find out things that don’t work. Doctors are there to help, and if you have any problems you should tell them straight away and
Harry took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure. He had some side effects early on, but otherwise has been very happy with his care and how well he feels.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Danny - Interview 26
>>
Danny stopped taking the trial tablets when she developed side effects, as she thought might happen. She felt staff reacted as if ‘I was no good to th
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.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Phil - Interview 11
>>
Phil joined a trial of medication for high blood pressure mainly to see staff who specialised in his condition and had more time than his GP. Helping
Phil took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. He had some side effects early on, so the medication was changed. He has been very happy with the care provided as part of the trial.
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.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Harry - Interview 07
>>
Harry had two unexpected drug interactions when he started taking other drugs alongside the trial drugs. He doesn’t remember anything about it in the
Harry took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure. He had some side effects early on, but otherwise has been very happy with his care and how well he feels.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Danny - Interview 26
>>
Danny’s husband learnt he had diabetes when he was being monitored during a previous trial. They both volunteered for another trial because it helps t
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.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Harry - Interview 07
>>
Harry had regular monitoring tests. Most staff were excellent, but one nurse started a debate with him and made him cross. That didn’t seem a good way
Harry took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure. He had some side effects early on, but otherwise has been very happy with his care and how well he feels.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Elvan - Interview 15
>>
Elvan joined a trial mainly because he hoped it would benefit him but it made little difference to his health. Now looking back he is still glad it ma
Elvan took part in a trial of medication for hypertension. His blood pressure did not improve much, but he felt well cared for and is glad to have taken part. He has since joined another trial in the same unit.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Harry - Interview 07
>>
Harry got a letter from the trial clinic saying his name had been put forward by his doctor. It seemed like a good opportunity to have some health che
Harry took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure. He had some side effects early on, but otherwise has been very happy with his care and how well he feels.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Danny - Interview 26
>>
When Danny’s blood pressure was monitored during the trial, one doctor would never tell her the measurements. She felt she had a right to know and was
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.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Harry - Interview 07
>>
Having already completed one trial, Harry didn’t want to join another one run by the same research group. He felt his blood pressure was now fine and
Harry took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure. He had some side effects early on, but otherwise has been very happy with his care and how well he feels.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Danny - Interview 26
>>
Danny put her tablets into a dosage box from a previous trial. Staff were very concerned that unused tablets were out of the original packets. If this
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.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Elvan - Interview 15
>>
Elvan missed the trial when it ended. He liked the research team and was disappointed they hadn’t been able to improve his symptoms yet.
Elvan took part in a trial of medication for hypertension. His blood pressure did not improve much, but he felt well cared for and is glad to have taken part. He has since joined another trial in the same unit.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Phil - Interview 11
>>
Phil felt a bid sad at the end of the trial – he missed seeing the team, and the feeling that he was in expert hands.
Phil took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. He had some side effects early on, so the medication was changed. He has been very happy with the care provided as part of the trial.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Phil - Interview 11
>>
Phil was happy with his first experience of a trial, and has recently volunteered for a similar trial. He values the expert supervision.
Phil took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. He had some side effects early on, so the medication was changed. He has been very happy with the care provided as part of the trial.
Medical research
>>
Clinical Trials
>>
Long term conditions
>>
Phil - Interview 11
>>
Phil would be interested to know how sport affects blood pressure. He was surprised to get high blood pressure because he was always so fit.
Phil took part in a trial of medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. He had some side effects early on, so the medication was changed. He has been very happy with the care provided as part of the trial.
Mail to a friend