Find a Clinical Trial for COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. A person with COPD has damage to their air sacs, which results in problems getting air in and out of the lungs. There is currently no cure for COPD, but it can be treated. Sometimes standard treatments are not effective. Finding a clinical trial for COPD may offer patients new treatments which may help ease symptoms. Read on to learn more.
Instructions
1. Talk with your pulmonolgist about clinical trials. Physicians are a good starting point. They may know the latest research and treatments. Get any referral information they have.
2. Learn about clinical trials. Go to a local medical library and research what clinical trials are. There are three phases of clinical trials. Learning about what the mission of each phase is will help you determine if a particular trial is right for you.
3. Do research. There are several websites dedicated to providing patients with information on COPD. They have links to major medical centers and research facilities which may be having COPD clinical trials.
4. Call the pulmonary department of the nearest university medical center. They may have a clinical trial for COPD underway, or be able to point you in the right direction.
5. Determine the risks and the benefits of a clinical trial. When you find a clinical trial you are thinking of applying for evaluate risks such as, side effects. Weigh the risks against such benefits such as, finding treatment which helps and participating in trials which may help patients in the future.
6. Ask questions. Talk to the doctors running the clinical trial. Ask about length of the trial, side effects, what treatments are involved and who pays for everything.
7. Read the informed consent information provided. Prior to starting a clinical trial for COPD you will be given information to read which explains everything. Read all information carefully and ask questions when you don't understand something.
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