Many times, when people think about joining clinical trials, getting a doctor’s referral is the first thing that comes to mind. Interestingly, that’s not necessarily the case. Unless stated otherwise, you don’t usually need a doctor’s referral to join a clinical trial. Because these trials can expose people to groundbreaking treatment or diagnostic options, it’s essential to remove any perceived obstacles to care. This is especially true when it comes to Black Americans, as many clinical trials still have too few participants who are Black.
If you’re interested in participating in medical research, here are 10 steps for joining a trial.
Your journey with participating in a clinical trial starts with finding the right one. Your ideal clinical trial should match your condition, health status, and needs. You can consult your doctor, but you can also make the decision based on the information you currently have about your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Every clinical trial targets specific participants. This means they will have what are known as inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria are the standards you need to meet to be included in the clinical trial. On the other hand, exclusion criteria are the things that will keep you out of the clinical trial. These can include your gender, age, stage of your condition, your responsiveness to certain medications, and other pre-existing conditions.
Once you’re sure you meet the inclusion criteria for the clinical trial you’re interested in, reach out to the person or team coordinating it. After searching for clinical trials, you may see an email, phone number, or contact form that you can use. When you contact them, include which clinical trial you’re interested in and how to reach you.
Although you don’t need a doctor’s referral, it can help to ask them to decipher the technical language of a clinical trial’s details. While you may have someone to explain everything to you if you’re accepted, that’s not usually possible when you search for them online.
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Depending on the type of clinical trial you’re applying for, undergoing a genetic test can help you get a foot in the door. In some studies, people who already have genetic test results may be prioritized. Usually, genetic tests must be ordered by your doctor and involve collecting a sample of blood, hair, skin, or other genetic tissue for testing. However, some direct-to-consumer genetic tests may be available to help.
If you live close to a study site that’s associated with the clinical trial you’re interested in, it can help to make an appointment with them for care. Sometimes, these study sites invite patients already in their care before anyone else.
Another way to increase your chances of being included in a clinical trial is to show the coordinators that you’re willing to travel. Include this information when you reach out so they know you’re not limited by your current location.
The last thing you want is to miss any contact from the clinical trial coordinators, so include every way to reach you. Make sure you check your email and messages regularly.
Experts suggest following up with the coordinators monthly to see where the process stands. It likely won’t speed things up, but at least you’ll know whether you’re still being considered. Reaching out can also allow you to clear up any questions they may have.
Most importantly, it pays to be patient. It takes a lot to coordinate clinical trials, so it can take anywhere from a few weeks to months before they contact all potential participants. While you’re waiting, it’s essential to keep up with any treatment routine that your current doctor has prescribed.
While clinical trials can be listed on various online sites, the most reputable is ClinicalTrials.gov. This website maintains a database of available and vetted clinical trials worldwide. When you go to the website, you should use the ‘Find a study’ search bar and ensure that you select the ‘recruiting and not yet recruiting studies’ status box. This will ensure you’re directed to studies that are currently happening or about to begin.
Once you’ve done that, you can search for the type of condition or illness that you’d like to see clinical trials for. Using the other available search boxes, you can narrow down the location of the clinical trial study sites that work best for you. Then you can click the ‘Search’ button. This action will generate a list of clinical trials that meet the criteria that you’ve asked for. Using the filter, you can then select ‘Interventional or Clinical Trial’ as your study type.
You may also find clinical trials listed on websites that are dedicated to different illnesses, such as breast cancer, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, and heart failure. Additionally, your doctor may have information about clinical trials that are specific to your condition.
RELATED: 5 Reasons to Enroll Yourself in Clinical Trials
Even if you don’t need your doctor’s referral to participate in a clinical trial, you may need their help in navigating the process. Part of that is because the language used in clinical trials can be quite technical and hard to decipher if you’re not already talking to someone in the program. In this case, you can ask your doctor for some guidance.
A good place to start is asking them if a clinical trial would be helpful for you. If the answer is ‘yes,’ you can move forward by getting more information. The next step is to find out which type of study would be best. There are different types of clinical trials, so it’s good to ask your doctor which one to investigate. Generally, studies focus on preventive care, screening, diagnostic techniques, treatment, and palliative care.
With this information in hand, you can move forward with finding a reputable clinical trial. Since the details of the study will be available, you can bring them to your doctor for clarification.
Some of the questions you can ask include:
This is only a suggested list, of course, and you may have additional questions based on your doctor’s response.
Many people can benefit from participating in clinical trials – especially Black Americans. Unfortunately, some people believe they need a doctor’s referral to get involved and never ask because they don’t think they’ll receive one. The good news is that you can start the process on your own and consult your doctor with questions so you know what to expect.
If you’re seeking additional guidance on clinical trials, visit BlackDoctor’s Clinical Trials Resource Center.
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