title: How to do it. Get patients' consent to enter clinical trials.
abstract: Gaining patients' consent to enter clinical trials is essential, but not easy. Giving careful thought to the design of the study itself, information which patients receive, and the use of a signed consent form may all help. To be properly informed, patients need to know something about their condition, the proposed study, and alternative options. The type and amount of information will vary and investigators need to judge the level appropriate for each person. Patients should understand that taking part in a clinical trial is voluntary and that their decision will not affect the quality of care they receive. The process of obtaining consent requires time and good communication. Working with young, elderly, or mentally impaired patients, or those particularly vulnerable to coercion, requires special sensitivity to the potential dangers.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, University of Glasgow, Woodside Health Centre.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wager
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tooley
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Emanuel
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D032962:Consent Forms; D030881:Disclosure; D028744:Ethics Committees, Research; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008499:Medical Records; D016743:Mental Competency; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D009272:Persons; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D035842:Research Subjects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom; D035862:Vulnerable Populations