Debunking Common Myths About Clinical Research

Clinical trials (also called clinical studies) are part of clinical research. Clinical research helps us learn more about health and helps us find better ways to prevent and treat disease and illness. There are a lot of questions about clinical research and some common misunderstandings. Let’s discuss some common myths and what they really mean.

MYTH: Clinical researchers experiment on people, and people have no idea what’s happening.
FACT: Before a person can volunteer or participate in a study, the research team must explain what the study is all about. They share any risks and benefits of participating. They discuss everything the study volunteer will be asked to do. They tell study volunteers that they can stop or leave the study at any time. Study volunteers can ask any questions they want. This process is called informed consent. Study volunteers are important partners in the research process.

MYTH: Clinical research is not safe.
FACT: Clinical research has many built-in safety checks. An institutional review board (IRB) is a group of people who review and approve a study before people can volunteer to enroll. Two federal agencies, the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have rules to ensure safety and ethical standards are followed.

MYTH: Children should not take part in clinical research.
FACT: Children are often left out of clinical trials. This results in fewer medicines and devices developed and proven safe specifically for children, and leaves health care providers and families with fewer options for treatment. It is very important that children and their families are given opportunities to participate in research that can improve our understanding and care of both common and rare pediatric conditions.

MYTH: My personal information isn’t safe if I join a research study or donate blood or tissue samples.
FACT: Your personal health information is protected by HIPAA laws. Researchers follow strict rules to keep information secure and remove personal identifiers when sharing research data.

MYTH: I can’t say no or quit a clinical study, because I’ll lose my medical care.
FACT: You always have the option to say no to a research study. You also can quit a study even if you already started one. This will not change the care you had before you started or were asked about the research.

MYTH: Only people who are very sick can join a clinical trial as a last chance for treatment or a cure.
FACT: Clinical research is done for many reasons. Some studies include healthy people, and some include sick people. People participate in clinical research for their own reasons. It is always a personal choice.

Parents and caregivers can learn more about clinical research on our Instagram channel. You can be an important part of the clinical research that drives our journey to best outcomes for all children, everywhere.