Frequently Asked Questions

Doctor giving medication to patient

Should I volunteer for a PharmQuest Clinical Study?

Every day, researchers uncover new information concerning medical conditions and possible therapies.

You can become an important part of these exciting medical breakthroughs and help future generations by volunteering for a research study.

What are clinical trials and why do people participate?

Clinical trials are part of investigative research and are at the heart of all medical advances. Their purpose is to look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Treatments might be new drugs or new combinations of drugs, new devices, or new ways to use existing treatments. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new treatment or test works and is safe. Clinical trials can also look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses.

People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Healthy volunteers say they participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward. Participants with an illness or disease can participate to help others too, but they also participate to possibly receive the newest treatment and to have the additional care and attention from the clinical trial staff. Clinical trials offer hope for many people and an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments for others in the future.

What can I expect if I decide to participate in a trial?

If you decide to participate in a trial, our staff of doctors and healthcare providers will closely monitor your health, answer your questions and provide you with the study medication. In addition to in-office appointments and taking study medication, you may be asked to have laboratory and diagnostic tests performed. Generally, all study procedures, doctor visits and study medications are at no cost to you and financial compensation is available for your time and travel expenses.

What are the potential risks of participating in a clinical trial?

If you decide to participate in a trial, our staff of doctors and healthcare providers will closely monitor your health, answer your questions and provide you with the study medication. In addition to in-office appointments and taking study medication, you may be asked to have laboratory and diagnostic tests performed. Generally, all study procedures, doctor visits and study medications are at no cost to you and financial compensation is available for your time and travel expenses.

What are the benefits of participating in a clinical trial?

Because they are carefully designed to test the effectiveness of a medication or medical treatment on current volunteer research participants, clinical trials can allow you access to medical options and medications not available through any other means. In addition to the study medication, there are study-related office visits with our medical staff and laboratory services, all performed at no cost to you.

What are some of the questions that I should ask if I am thinking about participating in a clinical trial?

  • What is the purpose of the study?
  • How long will the study last?
  • What are my responsibilities if I participate?
  • Will I be able to take my regular medications while I am in the study?
  • What are the possible benefits to me if I choose to participate?
  • What kinds of procedures and/or tests will I have during the trial?
  • How often will I need to come to the office for visits?