TRIB TOTAL MEDIA SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 2018 · 3
A look at
HOW OLDER PEOPLE CAN FIND CLINICAL TRIALS
Dear Savvy Senior,
What can you tell me about clinical
trials and how to go about finding one?
— Old and Ill
Dear Old,
Each year, hundreds of thou-sands
of Americans participate in
clinical trials in hopes of gaining
access to the latest, and possibly
greatest, but not-yet-on-the-
market treatments for all types
of illnesses. But, you need to be
aware that clinical trials can vary
greatly in what they’re designed
to do. Be careful to choose one
that actually benefits you. Here’s what you
should know, along with some tips for
locating one.
Clinical trials
A clinical trial is the scientific term for a test
or research study of a drug, device or medical
procedure using people. These trials — spon-sored
by drug companies, doctors, hospitals
and the federal government — are conducted
to learn whether a new treatment is safe and
if it works. Keep in mind that these new treat-ments
are also unproven, so there might be
risks, too.
Also, be aware that all clinical
trials have certain eligibility cri-teria
(age, gender, health status,
etc.) that you must meet in order
to be accepted. Before taking part
in a trial, you’ll be asked to sign
an informed consent agreement.
You also can leave a study at any
time.
Find a trial
Every year, there are more than 100,000
clinical trials conducted in the U.S. You can
find them by asking your doctor, who might
be monitoring trials in his or her specialty.
Or, you can look for them on your own at
ClinicalTrials.gov. This website, sponsored by
the National Institutes of Health, contains
a comprehensive database of federally and
privately supported clinical studies in the U.S.
and abroad on a wide range of diseases and
conditions, including information about each
trial’s purpose, who may participate, locations
and phone numbers for more details.
If you want some help finding the right
trial, try ResearchMatch.org, a web-based
resource created by Vanderbilt University that
connects willing patients with researchers of
clinical trials. Or, use the Center for Informa-tion
and Study on Clinical Research Par-ticipation
at CISCRP.org. This is a nonprofit
organization that will take your information
online or over the phone and do a thorough
clinical trials search for you and mail or email
you the results within a week or two. Call
877-633-4376 for assistance.
Those with dementia and their caregivers
can locate clinical trials at the Alzheimer’s As-sociation
TrialMatch at TrialMatch.alz.org.
Things to Know
Before deciding to participate in a trial, you
need to first discuss it with your doctor to be
sure it is appropriate for you. Then, schedule
an appointment with the study’s medical
team and ask lots of questions, such as:
• What’s the purpose of the study, and can it improve
my condition?
• What are the risks?
• What kinds of tests and treatments does the study
involve, and how often and where they are performed?
• Is the experimental treatment in the study being
compared with a standard treatment or a placebo?
• Who’s paying for the study? Will I have any costs,
and if so, will my insurance plan or Medicare cover the
rest?
• What if something goes wrong during or after the
trial and I need extra medical care? Who pays?
For more information on clinical trials for
older adults, visit the National Institute on
Aging (nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials),
which has many informative articles,
including one on “questions to ask before
participating in a clinical trial.”
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior,
P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit
SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to
the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy
Senior” book.
Jim Miller
SAVVY SENIOR
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