Previously, we have gone over what is involved in a clinical study and how to open a file. Now, you are ready to choose a study at Alta that suits you. One major influential factor on whether participants choose one study over another is usually linked to the compensation offered. If we read certain comments left on our Facebook page, we might believe that compensation for a study is based on its risk factors. Is this correct or is this part of a long standing myth?

Before answering this question and to better illustrate what participating in a clinical study entails, let’s start with a typical scenario…

Your file has been completed, is now active and your profile has just been accepted. You then decide to participate in the study Axx(A). This study includes two overnight stays in the clinic and two follow up visits. There are also two medical visits to complete before the start of the study.

During this fictitious study, you spend your first 24h stay at the clinic. You then go back to your regular schedule and after a few days, return to the clinic for the second overnight stay. Once again, you go back to your regular schedule and over the course of the following weeks, you will need to go back to the clinic for two additional follow up visits. These visits come at the end of the study and are for blood tests. These appointments last about 30 minutes each. 

If you have kept count, this means that as the participant, you have had two medical visits prior to the start of the study, two overnight stays at the clinic, and two follow up visits. This amounts to six return trips between your home or work place and our clinic, for a little more than 48h total in the clinic.

Do not worry! The majority of our participants enjoy their overnight stays and collaboration with us. The reason we mention the number of return trips, the length of the stay, and the number of total visits is because these are factors that we take into consideration. It is actually in large part the amount of time you spend during the study and the number of return trips that determine the compensation you will receive.

As mentioned in our section, Myths & Realities, the amount of compensation offered has absolutely no influence over a study’s own risks. Canada’s clinical studies’ guidelines are very strict. An independent ethical committee must first verify and review each study and the associated compensation is part of the verification criteria. 

Now you know more on how we have evaluated the compensation offered on the next study in which you will participate. Remember, it is always possible to receive a medical note to justify your absence at work for your appointments and overnight stays!

In the next and last article in the series “Before the Study,” we will go over the selection criteria, explain how to understand these with the help of our guide, describe the recruitment process, and more!