Common misconceptions about clinical research

The field of clinical research is highly regulated. Countless guidelines and standard operating procedures dictate how clinical trials are designed and run. Every clinical trial is reviewed by a panel of experts who must approve the study framework and details. Despite the protections in place to safeguard participants, many people feel uncertain about the idea of joining a research study. This anxiety likely stems from several misconceptions. Here are five of the most common:

Clinical trials are only for sick people. Untrue. Research is needed before any new drug, vaccine or procedure is made available. So yes, there are trials for people with serious or rare illness. But there are other trials, too. For example, sometimes participants are not happy with the current drug they are taking. They don’t feel it works or they don’t like side effects. So they wonder if something might be better – but they may not consider themselves to be sick. Other trials require healthy volunteers – those with no significant or chronic health issues – for research into vaccines.

Participants are “guinea pigs:” Untrue. This term has long been negatively associated with being a clinical trial participant. Being mis-treated is a fear many people have as a result. The reality is, participant safety is the top priority of every study and the clinicians involved with the research. Many times the therapy being looked at in a trial is already approved and being prescribed for another condition. If a participant ever feels unsafe, they can leave a trial at any time (and for any reason).

Participants receive “sugar pills:” Untrue. When a trial is using a placebo (which is culturally associated with sugar tablets) with no benefit, this is clearly stated to the participant. Study design is shared during a screening visit and a participant would have to agree to (and express they understand it) in order to enroll (called informed consent). Given all the advances in medicine over the past decades, trials today frequently compare new therapies to an existing ‘standard of care’ (which is the most common treatment for the condition). This is nearly always the case in cancer trials.

You have to stop seeing your regular doctor. Untrue. Participation in a trial is voluntary and does not mean that a participant is giving up a trusted physician relationship. Depending on the trial’s purpose and timeframe, it may make sense to let one’s primary care physician or specialist know about plans to enroll or the status of the trial. This is especially true if there may be a change to prescription medicines for a period of time. 

All trials are run by big drug companies. Untrue. Firstly, clinical trials are primarily performed by contract research organizations (CRO). A CRO specializes in clinical research activities on behalf of medical, pharmaceutical, and biotech companies. Secondly, ‘drugs’ or medicines are just one aspect of clinical research. There are many other classes of trials. These include behavioral (for example, a form of counseling), diagnostic (tests that diagnose illness such as home-based COVID tests), medical device, preventive, and nutritional studies.

If you have questions about clinical research, or have other concerns, visit our FAQ area to read up on other aspects of recruitment, screening and enrollment.