The first visit of any study is called a screening visit, and for most people it is the most nerve-wracking one, purely because they do not know what to expect. So here is the whole thing, start to finish.
Before anything medical happens: the conversation
You sit down with the study coordinator, someone you may already recognize from your doctor’s office, and go through the informed consent together. This is not a form to skim. The coordinator walks through what the study involves, how long it lasts, what the possible risks and benefits are, and what happens if you change your mind. Ask everything. Slow the conversation down. You can even take the consent home and come back another day. Nothing medical happens until you have signed, and signing still does not lock you in.
Then: making sure the study fits you
Screening usually includes a medical history review, vital signs, and often blood work or other tests specific to the study. This is the study checking that it is safe and appropriate for you. Some people do not qualify, and that is the process working, not a rejection of you.
What you leave with
A clear picture of the visit schedule, the coordinator’s direct contact information, and usually compensation for the visit itself. Most screening visits at our sites take 60 to 90 minutes, in the same office where you see your regular doctor.
Wondering if a current study fits you? Ask at patients@stryderesearch.com, or just ask at your next regular appointment. The coordinator is right there