Most medical ailments do not have a single treatment. Some patients may choose to enhance their treatments with new or innovative techniques currently under investigation.

Clinical trials involve the participation of people in medical research. Most medical research begins in a laboratory with studies in test tubes and on animals. Treatments that show promise may then be tried on humans. The only way to know if a treatment is safe and effective is to try it on patients in a clinical trial.

Clinical trials are supported at many organizations such as medical centers, hospitals, universities and doctors' offices. The researcher will most probably be a doctor, an academic researcher or a specialist. The researchers compare the effect of the new treatment with standard treatment. Patient receiving the clinical treatment are in a treatment group, whereas patients receiving standard treatment or no treatment are in a "control" group. Researchers assign patients randomly to either a treatment or control group. If you do not know whether you are in the treatment group or the control group, it is known as a masked study. If neither you nor your doctor know if you are in a treatment or control group, it is known as a double masked study. This helps to ensure that the perception of the patient or doctor will not affect the study.

Each clinical trial study has specific eligibility requirements such as type and stage of disease, age group, or history of the patient. If you are interested in joining a clinical trial your doctor must contact one of the trials investigator and provide details about your medical history. The National Institute of Health and other organizations sponsor trials on various diseases and disorders. You can search available clinical trials at: http://clinicaltrials.gov.
 

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