By Nancy Dickenson

Advances in medical care depend on the results of clinical trials. Before new and better medical treatment becomes widely available, it must go through a period of rigorous and carefully controlled research using human volunteers to verify both safety and efficacy.

Sponsored by government and industry, tens of thousands of clinical trials are conducted in the United States each year. There is an ongoing need for volunteers.

Potential subjects must be aware that there are both risks and benefits to participating in clinical trials. Participants have access to new research treatments before they are widely available, they receive medical care at leading health-care facilities and they can appreciate knowing they are helping others.

On the downside, the experimental treatment may not work, and there may be unpleasant, serious or even life-threatening side effects. The concept of informed consent, in which patients must learn and understand the facts about a clinical trial before deciding whether or not to participate, is key to successful research.

“Informed Consent: A Guide to the Risks and Benefits of Volunteering for Clinical Trials,” by Kenneth Getz and Deborah Borfitz (Thomson Centerwatch, 2002), provides consumers with an understanding of clinical trials. The book addresses the significance diversity plays in clinical trials, particularly those involving women and minorities, as well as critical issues for vulnerable populations, including children and seniors. Appendices include a glossary of clinical trial terminology, copies of regulatory documents and listings of trial sponsors.

For more information, go to www.clinicaltrials.gov. For more information on cancer clinical trials, go to www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.

“Making the Decision: A Cancer Patient’s Guide to Clinical Trials,” by Marilyn Mulay, R.N. (Jones and Bartlett, 2001), focuses on cancer clinical trials but contains information applicable to all types. This book does an excellent job, steering people through the complex steps of finding a trial and determining eligibility. The potential financial impact of trial participation is also considered. The final chapter, “Making the Decision,” ties it all together, guiding the patient through the steps to decide if participating in a clinical trial is appropriate. This book helps people make informed decisions about cancer treatment in general, as well.

For more information, call the Stanford Health Library at 725-8400 or visit www.healthlibrary.stanford.edu.

Nancy Dickenson is a librarian at the Stanford Health Library.