Screening
If you have confirmed your interest in a particular trial, one of our staff will contact you by telephone to assess your suitability for the trial.
Every trial is different and has specific requirements: for example, IHMRI recently conducted a study where participants had to be 70 years of age and must not have had the skin condition ‘shingles’ before joining.
By way of another example, IHMRI has one study where a blood sample is required before suitability for participation can be confirmed.
Screening means that the most suitable participants will be selected to participate in the trial.
Screening could involve one or more telephone interviews. If you meet the trial requirements based on these interviews, you may be asked to visit our facility at a time that suits you for one or more screening visits.
Later screening visits, if required, may also include some medical investigations performed by our experienced and qualified trial doctors.
Screening also provides an opportunity for IHMRI to explain to you the detail of the trial. It gives you an opportunity to meet our nursing and medical staff, see our facilities and ask questions so you can be as informed as possible before providing participation consent.
If you do not meet eligibility for a particular trial, you may still be eligible for upcoming trials. If you consent to joining or remaining on our database, we will contact you about future trials that may be of interest to you.
Participation
If you are eligible for the trial, you will be given an opportunity to discuss the trial in detail with our trial doctors. The benefits and risks will be explained to you. If, after all of your questions have been answered, you consent to being a participant, you will be asked to complete some paperwork and be provided with detailed information about the trial.
Our nurses will provide reminders of upcoming appointments, will regularly follow up with you regarding your wellbeing, and will be available at any time during business hours to answer questions you may have.
Safety and privacy
Your participation in clinical trials is extremely valuable in improving health treatments, identifying effective prevention approaches, and developing new models of care.
Your safety and trust is our highest priority. In return for your commitment, we aim to provide you with a fully informed and positive experience of the particular clinical trial and our facility. The benefits and risks of participation in a particular study will be explained to you before you provide your consent and you can ask our clinical trial staff, nurses and doctors questions at any time.
You are also free to leave the trial process at any time.
Any personal information you provide us will be kept strictly confidential and we are committed to ensuring the privacy of your information. IHMRI is bound by the National Privacy Principles contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act and we abide by our privacy policy and the privacy statements of our partners the University of Wollongong and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District as appropriate.
Who’s involved?
Clinical Trial Nurses and Clinical Trial Coordinators
Our nurses and coordinators are your primary contact for the trial and they will liaise with you and monitor you throughout the trial.
Trial doctors
Experienced and qualified doctors provide you with information about the trial and perform all medical related trial procedures required by the trial.
They will explain the benefits and risks and answer any questions you may have about participation.
Reception staff
Our reception staff will answer your initial phone calls and will welcome you when you arrive at our facility.
Time commitment
Most trials will involve a number of visits to our facility over a specific period of time.
We aim to make it as convenient as possible for you to attend our facility and aim to work with you to find the time most suitable to you.
Parking and transport
There is dedicated parking for clinical trial participants at our CRTU at the University of Wollongong (go to our contacts page for a map).
Our coordinators can also help you to determine other transport options to get to our facility if you don’t drive.
Participation payment
Some trials will include compensation for travel, or additional support services such as psychological, dietary and fitness consultations.
Every individual trial is different and compensation is not standard across trials. Any compensation allowances will be disclosed at the time of screening.
Questions?
If you still have questions, please contact IHMRI’s CRTU team (9am to 5pm, Mon – Fri, AEST) or email info@ihmri.org.au.