Study volunteers find that they are motivated to watch their diet more carefully when they have to report what they eat at their next visit to the research center. And of course, if you are a volunteer in a clinical trial, you are giving of yourself and helping society make medical progress. Before you enroll in a study you will be given a consent form to read and sign. This form gives you all the information about the clinical trial you are considering. Be sure that you have read the consent form thoroughly.
Some people read it two or three times.
If something is not clear on the consent form, or you want additional information, be sure to ask all of your questions to the study doctor or the study coordinator, whoever reviews the consent form with you. Every clinical trial is different, and the benefits and risks of participating vary. The consent form is your best source of information. Although previously you might have talked to the study doctor or study nurse, you might read the consent form and find out something about the clinical trial that you didn't expect. Perhaps it never occurred to you to ask about the risks of a certain procedure, or a placebo period.