Help others
It was a fantastic experience - the team was so thorough and everything was explained
If you take part in a clinical trial you may feel as though you are taking a more active role in your healthcare. You will also be helping others, and possibly yourself, by helping to identify more effective medical treatments.
Patients who have taken part in research at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have found it a positive and rewarding process. “It was a fantastic experience - the team was so thorough and everything was explained,” says Juliet Simpson, pictured left, a patient at Charing Cross Hospital who took part in a clinical trial for a new rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
“I noticed a dramatic change in my symptoms and it was wonderful to have the chance to improve my care and those of others with this painful condition.”
Fellow patient Shirley Stewart, pictured right, agrees: “I would encourage others to take part – there is absolutely nothing to be frightened of.”
To hear more views of people who volunteered to take part in research, watch a video about one of our research centres, the Sir John McMichael centre.
Your health will be closely monitored throughout a clinical trial, and as a result any changes in your health, whether or not they are related to the treatment you are having, are frequently picked up and acted upon earlier than if you were not in a trial. However, some people find that the extra attention makes them worry more about their condition.
Before you consider taking part in a trial, please read our section on what taking part in research involves.
