10 Questions to Ask Before Participating in a Clinical Trial

Thinking about joining a clinical trial? That's an exciting but big decision, and it's completely normal to have a list of questions before you sign anything; we want you to ask them. Like other research sites, our goal is to have participants walk in feeling informed and walk out confident in their choice.

Below are 10 questions worth bringing to your first conversation with a study team. Remember, there's no such thing as a question that's too basic when it comes to your health.

1. What is this trial studying, and what are my other options?

Before anything else, be clear on what the investigational treatment is meant to do and how it stacks up against what's already available to you.

Say you're managing a chronic condition like diabetes or high blood pressure. You'll want to know how the new treatment compares to the regular medication you're currently taking, and whether standard care might still be a better fit for you right now. A good study team will walk you through those alternatives honestly, so you can weigh the whole picture.

2. What will happen to me during the research study?

Ask what medical tests, scans, or procedures are part of the protocol, and walk through them one by one if you need to. Some studies involve little more than routine bloodwork and a quick check-in every few weeks. Others ask more of you: think imaging appointments, symptom diaries, or a supervised dose on-site before you're cleared to continue at home. Knowing what's coming, in detail, helps you plan around work, family, and daily life instead of being caught off guard at your first visit.

3. How many visits will this take, and where do they happen?

Visit frequency varies from study to study, sometimes considerably, so don't be afraid to ask for specifics. A shorter study might wrap up in three or four visits over a few weeks, while a longer one could ask for monthly check-ins over a year or more.

Ask upfront how many visits to expect, roughly how long each one runs, and whether any of them require an overnight stay at the site, since that's something you'll want to plan for well ahead of time, especially if you have kids, pets, or work to arrange around it.

4. What potential risks/side effects should I watch for?

Every investigational treatment comes with a list of known possible risks, and sometimes a shorter list of things researchers are still watching for because the answers aren't fully known yet. Have your study team walk through both categories with you in plain language. It's fair to ask what's considered minor and expected, like mild fatigue or a headache, versus what would be a reason to call the study doctor right away.

5. What kind of follow-up happens after the trial ends?

A trial doesn't necessarily end the moment your last dose or procedure is complete, and that catches some people off guard. See whether there's a follow-up visit or monitoring period built in after the active part of the study wraps up, and get a clear answer on who you should call if something comes up weeks or months later.

Some studies share results with participants once they're available, so it's worth asking about that too.

6. Will this cost me anything, or will I be compensated?

Legitimate clinical trials don't bill participants for study-related tests, visits, or the investigational treatment itself. On top of that, many studies compensate participants for their time and travel, sometimes per visit and sometimes as a lump sum at the end. Ask about what's covered, what the compensation structure looks like, and whether anything outside the study's scope, like an unrelated doctor's visit, might still land on your own insurance.

7. Do I need health insurance to take part?

In most cases, no. Participation generally isn't tied to whether you have insurance, since the study itself covers the costs directly related to the trial, including the tests and treatment you'll receive. That said, every protocol is a little different, so it's worth confirming with your specific clinical trial team versus assuming. If you do have insurance, ask whether it needs to be involved at all, since often it doesn't.

8. Who is responsible for my safety, and how is it monitored?

Every clinical trial goes through review by an independent ethics board before it can enroll single participants, and that oversight continues for as long as the study runs. Get a sense of who's watching your health day to day. Is it a study doctor, a nurse, or a coordinator you can call directly?

You'll also want to know how quickly they'd respond if something felt off between visits. Knowing there's a real person on the other end of that phone call can make a real difference in how comfortable you feel.

9. Will my regular doctor still be involved in my care?

Joining a trial doesn't mean stepping away from the rest of your medical care, and it shouldn't. Check to see if the research team will loop in your primary doctor, whether that's sharing updates or coordinating on medication changes, and whether you're expected to keep up with your usual appointments alongside the study visits.

At Remington-Davis, we make sure our patients' regular doctors stay in the loop throughout, so nothing falls through the cracks between your everyday care and the trial itself.

10. Can I change my mind, and what happens if I do?

Participation in a clinical trial is voluntary from start to finish, and that doesn't change once you've signed the consent form. Ask directly: can you stop participating, for any reason, without it affecting the rest of your care? The answer should be a simple, straightforward yes. If a study team hedges on this one, that's worth paying attention to.

Bring Your Questions to Our Clinical Trial Team

At Remington-Davis, we believe a good clinical trial experience starts long before the first visit. It starts with feeling heard, informed, and genuinely cared for from the very first conversation, and that means giving you the space to ask every question on this list, and any others that come to mind.

If you're weighing whether a clinical trial is right for you, our team is here to talk it through before you commit to anything. There's no pressure and no obligation, just an honest conversation.

Browse our currently enrolling studies or give us a call at (614) 487-2560. We're happy to answer your team's questions and help you figure out whether participating makes sense for you and your life.