Common Concerns About Clinical Trials—And What We Can Do About Them
When people hear the term 'clinical trial,' they often imagine someone with a serious illness, desperate for a last-resort treatment, being poked and prodded in a lab. These images are persistent, but far from the truth. In my years of experience working with clinical trials, I've learned that while some of the concerns people have are valid, many are rooted in misunderstanding.
These misconceptions have a significant impact on how broad and effective our clinical research can be. When we can't recruit or retain the right participants, it slows the pace of medical advancement for everyone. But the good news is that we have real, actionable ways to address these issues, starting with education and a patient-first approach to clinical trial design.
Not Just For The Sick
One of the most common misconceptions I hear is that trials are only for people who are seriously ill. In reality, healthy volunteers play a critical role in clinical research. Drug developers need a baseline, like a statistical 'blank slate,' to see how new treatments affect the body without the complications of an existing condition.
This misconception often goes hand in hand with the belief that trials are only for those who have exhausted every other option. That narrative is just as inaccurate. Many trials are designed specifically for people at the beginning of their treatment journey. Clinical trials can offer alternatives that are less invasive or more promising, such as a pill for an ophthalmologic condition instead of injections or surgery. That alone can be a compelling reason to participate in a trial sooner, rather than later.
We can't talk about hesitations around clinical trials without addressing the issue of historical distrust. In some communities, especially those that have been mistreated or exploited by the medical establishment, this skepticism is deep-rooted and understandable. But today, clinical research is one of the most highly regulated parts of healthcare. Participant safety is paramount, and researchers are required to adhere to strict protocols and uphold stringent ethical standards. Nonetheless, trust is earned, not granted.
The impact of these concerns is not academic. They directly affect who participates in trials and who doesn't. Right now, trial participants tend to come from a narrow demographic, often concentrated in cities around research hubs. This lack of variety in age, background, and lived experience can lead to blind spots in treatment efficacy, safety, and applicability.
Building Trust And Breaking Barriers
Let's be honest: Participating in a clinical trial can be inconvenient. There may be travel involved, time away from work or family, and experimental medical procedures don't always work. But the reality is changing fast. We're seeing a wave of innovation in technology and trial design aimed at reducing patient burden.
Remote monitoring, mobile clinics and at-home test kits are making participation more convenient and accessible. Why drive to a hospital when a nurse can come to you, or you can test yourself at home and log your data on a smartphone? These kinds of features are essential if we want to recruit and retain a more diverse group of participants. And for many patients, financial compensation is an added incentive. In some cases, you're essentially receiving cutting-edge care, often years before it's widely available, for free.
Education is our strongest tool for getting the truth out. When people understand the purpose, value and reality of clinical research—not just for themselves, but for society—it helps normalize the process and reframes the conversation. Clinical trials are an integral part of the healthcare ecosystem. Helping people see that connection builds trust and encourages a wider swath of society to participate. The result: better outcomes on all sides.
Education also helps foster a sense of gratitude. When you understand the rigorous process a drug or procedure undergoes before it reaches your pharmacy or doctor's office, you're more likely to appreciate the people who helped test and develop it.
Even if the benefit of taking part in a clinical trial isn't immediate or personal, your participation could help a family member, a neighbor or someone else in your community down the line. When more people see trials in this light, we can help shift the conversation from 'Why me?' to 'Why not me?'
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
a minute ago
- Forbes
What Near-Death Experiences Teach Us About Work, New Studies Say
Near-death experiences at work are uncommon in many professions, but with close calls in aviation gaining more attention in recent months, certain industries are grappling with the impact these experiences have in the workplace and ways such events influence how survivors move forward in their careers. Recent studies reveal that employee' near-death experiences dramatically change their thoughts about work, what matters most in their careers and their relationships with coworkers. What Are Near-Death Experiences? A near-death experience (NDE) is an event when someone has a close brush with death and temporarily begins the process of dying. After recovery, survivors typically recount an out-of-body experience or a vision of a tunnel of light. NDEs occur among 17% of people who nearly die. And about 45% of people who report near-death experiences describe accompanying out-of-body experiences. A whopping five to 10% of the general population have memories of an NDE, including somewhere between 10 and 23% of cardiac arrest survivors. Many people who have had near-death experiences describe a sense of "awe" or "bliss" and a reluctance to come back into their bodies after being revived. They recall seeing and often hearing ongoing earthly events from a perspective that is apart, and usually above, their physical bodies. Following cardiac arrest, they may see, and later accurately describe, their own resuscitation. In the last hours before an expected natural death, many people enter a period of unresponsiveness, during which they no longer respond to their external environment. Anecdotal reports from near-death experiences commonly include stories of the dying person hearing unusual noises or hearing themselves pronounced dead. Scientific Research On Near-Death Experiences No one knows for sure what happens as we die, but recent information from researchers gives us a clue. In 2020, I wrote a story for on brain scientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, who witnessed her own stroke, describing it as strikingly similar to the bliss of an NDE which she details in her book, My Stroke of Insight. Taylor told me there was zero fear, and she was bouncing in and out of blissful euphoria and awareness of external reality. She remembers shifting into a consciousness that she's a part of a greater humanity, more open, expansive and flexible to possibilities—as opposed to self-focused needs. 'The authentic self is the part of us that I firmly believe shows up in the last five minutes of our lives,' she states. 'When we're on our deathbed, the left brain begins to dissipate. We shift out of all the accumulation and the external world because it's no longer valuable. What is valuable is who we are as human beings and what we did with our lives to help others.' Neuroscientists accept NDEs as a unique mental state that offers insights into the death experience. A recent burst in research suggests that survivors of near-death experiences feel increased empathy, spiritual growth, a sense of purpose and even change how they approach their jobs. A groundbreaking study in Scientific Reports, validates anecdotal records with the first empirical evidence that people still hear while in an unresponsive state hours before dying. The researchers found that the auditory systems of dying patients respond similarly to young, healthy participants just hours from the end of life. They conclude that hearing is the last sense to go in the dying brain. A study in the June, 2025 issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology explores stories from military aviators who had a close brush with death on the job and what helped them process the traumatic experiences and rediscover meaning in their work. I spoke with the study's coauthor, Kevin Rockmann, professor of management at George Mason University's Costello College of Business. He told me that participants used storytelling about their close brush with death as a means to reclaim a sense of purpose, identity and belonging in their jobs. He adds that storytelling after a life-threatening event also applies to corporate employees readjusting to life after facing a traumatic or serious medical event like the recent Manhattan mass shooting at New York's NFL headquarters, major surgery or auto accident. 'The way stories are told (with humor, exaggeration or vulnerability) shapes emotional healing and workplace esteem,' Rockmann says. 'Even deeply traumatic experiences can strengthen an employee's connection to their role, especially in high-stakes jobs like aviation, healthcare or emergency response.' Journal of Management research, published in July of this year explores how NDEs affect employees' return to their jobs. The most common change is the desire to do more meaningful work. The study found that NDEs reshape values, creating a deeper appreciation of life, less value on money, material possessions and prestige and more importance on meaning, purpose and loving others. Survivors often change the direction of their careers, focus on different work priorities, switch jobs or start their own companies. The researchers also reported that NDEs transform how survivors interact with and relate to others at work, making them more than just business associates, creating deeper relationships, connecting to them as human beings. 'The stories of near-death survivors offer a kind of blueprint for re-imagining how we work," the researchers conclude. "For employees, that might mean re-evaluating what success looks like or exploring roles that align more closely with personal values. For employers, it might involve fostering workplace cultures that prioritize connection, purpose and well-being.' When Coworkers Have Near-Death Experiences According to Rockmann, the natural tendency is to suppress near-death stories so as not to disturb hearers and make the affected person 'relive' the experience. But he believes this overlooks the value to be gained by encouraging that person to share their story with others in the workplace. Unspoken workplace rules cause miscommunication and disconnection. If you're an employer, experts recommend that you ensure HR personnel are well educated about the process of death and dying. If you're an employee where deaths or near-deaths haven't been acknowledged, speak to someone in authority who can take steps to provide training. Appropriate information makes sure employees receive emotional support during the loss. Otherwise social isolation can cut employees off from help when they most need it. Karen Salmansohn told me she encourages employees to use mortality as motivation not to fear death, but to use its reality to prioritize meaning, connection and courage. Author of Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret . . . Before Your Time Runs Out, Salmansohn is a proponent of what she calls, 'near-life experiences.' She describes these moments as times when you're technically alive. 'Your heart is beating, your lungs are working, but you're not really living. You're present in body, but not in spirit. You're on autopilot. Distracted. Scattered. Going through the motions but missing the meaning.' Neuroscientists suggest that knowing what happens when we're dying tells us how to console colleagues and loved ones as they pass on. It's important to be supportive, compassionate and understanding in cases where coworkers have near-death experiences. Experts encourage you to reach out to bereaved colleagues, share your concerns and be willing to listen. Knowing that hearing is the last sense to go gives credence to being present with comforting words in the last hours to console your dying colleagues and loved ones.
Washington Post
a minute ago
- Washington Post
Dogs and their people: Companions in cancer research
After a train carrying chemicals derailed and caught fire in East Palestine, Ohio, in 2023, residents were exposed to carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, acrolein and dioxin. Since tumors are typically slow to develop, it could take decades to know what that might have done to the locals' cancer risk. But there may be a quicker route to an answer: The residents' dogs were also exposed, and dogs develop cancer more quickly.
New York Times
a minute ago
- New York Times
No more beer league: Why NHLers are choosing sleep optimization over alcohol during the season
Summer rolls on. For hockey players, it is the window for golf, weddings, Stanley Cup celebrations, vacations and cookouts. Alcohol can be a common companion. But come October, when the 2025-26 NHL season begins, some players will turn off the taps for one specific reason. Charlie Coyle had yet to be drafted when Tony Amonte, his cousin, concluded his NHL career in 2007. But what the veteran of 1,174 NHL games shared years ago with Chuck Coyle, the center's father, left an impression. Advertisement 'You go out, you drink, you have a good time, you won't be the same for a month. That's what I always remember him saying when I was younger,' the Columbus Blue Jackets forward recalled his dad's telling of Amonte's belief. 'Maybe that's an exaggeration. Maybe not. But I have that in my head.' Amonte's formula may not be scientific. But part of the reason the 33-year-old Coyle rarely drinks during the season is that he wants to avoid, whenever possible, any disruption to a key part of his life as an athlete: sleep. According to Dr. Alen Juginovic, a sleep consultant and Harvard Medical School postdoctoral fellow, the general rule is that it takes one hour for alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme in the liver, to metabolize a five-ounce glass of wine. The process, however, does not commence immediately upon consumption. If a player drinks at night, metabolism usually takes place after he falls asleep. 'If you take a glass of wine or beer 30 minutes or an hour before sleep, it's probably going to get metabolized around midnight or 1 a.m., ' Juginovic said. 'That's when the problems can actually start.' It's common to think that alcohol, which is a sedative, can help people fall asleep quickly. The issue comes later during the window in which metabolism would occur. It would be within the typical 100-minute sleep cycle: Stage 1 (light sleep), Stage 2 (slightly deeper), Stage 3 (deep sleep) and rapid eye movement. Were it to take place within Stage 3, it would disrupt the cycle's most restorative segment. Juginovic explains that sleep becomes very light and fragmented during alcohol metabolism. Some people even experience micro-arousals. As a result, it's very likely, according to Juginovic, that alcohol will decrease the length of deep sleep and REM. 'Your brain actually goes, in a very brief moment, to an awake state. Even though you're not consciously aware you're awake,' Juginovic said. 'Those are those micro-arousals that happen many, many times during the night. Unfortunately, then the brain doesn't get enough deep sleep, and you feel even worse during the morning.' Advertisement This would be one thing for anyone on a normal schedule. NHL schedules are anything but normal. Consider the player who wakes up in a hotel room after postgame travel. It's not easy to fall asleep quickly after a late-night flight. The hotel bed may not be as comfortable as the one at home. There may be a morning skate scheduled for that day. Perhaps that night's game is an important one in a playoff race. The circumstances are already stacked against restful sleep. Alcohol would be just another variable. Sleep requirements vary between players. But in general, Juginovic recommends professional athletes sleep at least eight hours per night. Alcohol-caused interruptions could prevent that threshold from being met. 'You're not going to be as concentrated,' Juginovic said. 'You're not going to be as focused. Your energy levels are going to be down. You're not going to feel your typical self. When you don't feel your typical self — the energy, concentration, all that stuff — you most likely aren't going to be performing at the top level in training, let alone during competition in a game.' The chances of a missed read, a blown assignment or a shot off net, in other words, rise upon alcohol-affected sleep. In the NHL, where job security is unstable for players on the margins, self-inflicted performance dips are green lights for management to consider alternatives. The first two years Mark Kastelic was eligible to be drafted, not one NHL team was interested. It was only in 2019, after he recorded a team-leading 77 points and 122 penalty minutes for the WHL's Calgary Hitmen, that the Ottawa Senators took Kastelic in the fifth round. Kastelic, now 26, has since become a fourth-line Boston Bruins forward. He's done so by chasing marginal gains in saunas, ice baths and hyperbaric chambers. They've helped the 6-foot-4, 227-pounder optimize his time in the gym. Physicality is Kastelic's calling card. Advertisement 'I love training,' Kastelic said. 'I love getting better and seeing the results and improvements. That's something that's satisfying to me in the offseason, just seeing the progress from Day 1 to the end of the summer — how I feel, how strong I feel, how explosive.' During the season, Kastelic goes to bed between 10 and 10:30 p.m. on non-game nights and wakes up at 8 a.m. He sets his bedroom's temperature at 66 degrees. He uses a fan for white noise. Falling asleep and staying put is no problem. It's not as easy for Kastelic after games. So, given how Kastelic chases every advantage, he is not one to drink during the season aside from occasional social situations. 'I'm always trying to figure out how not to leave any stone unturned and figure out ways I can maximize recovery from little gadgets or different tools — different things that are available out there — to feel my best,' he said. Personal technology allows players to learn more about their progress. The Toronto Maple Leafs' Vinni Lettieri swears by his Oura ring. It measures, among other things, how many hours the forward sleeps. By Lettieri's clock, he sleeps for approximately nine hours per night. But the ring can inform him how many of those were quality hours. 'If you have one drink, it might screw up your HRV levels,' Lettieri said. 'It's crazy what it does to you.' Lettieri, 30, has 155 games of NHL experience. He has played 324 in the AHL. For a player fighting for every varsity appearance, anything that would compromise NHL shifts is not under consideration. 'It's not even a thought,' Lettieri said of regular in-season drinking. 'I just want to try to recover as much as possible.' Coyle understands why team dinners are times when players order drinks to facilitate socialization. In fact, some veterans believe the decline in drinking has come at a cost to team bonding. Advertisement But Coyle chooses, in most cases, to abstain. 'I think it just affects you so much. Especially if you don't do it often,' Coyle said. 'You try to have a few drinks, you're feeling it. Then the next day, you're probably feeling it. Our schedule is so condensed that one night of bad sleep, we're already against the grain because we play late. So you're not going to bed until certain times. Sometimes we're on the road traveling, so you don't get in until a certain time. To throw another bad night's sleep into that equation, that's going to affect you that much more.' On occasions when a player does choose to drink, Juginovic recommends one drink per 60 minutes, consumed at least three to four hours before bedtime. This allows metabolism to take place before sleep. But Juginovic cautions that abstention is preferable to controlled consumption. 'I know it's socially acceptable to have a glass of wine in the evening,' Juginovic said. 'But that is undeniably going to impact your sleep. If you're a high-performing athlete, I don't think you can afford to not perform in tomorrow's game or tomorrow's training because of a glass of alcohol.' (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic, with photos by ArtMarie, SimonKR and Sezeryadigar / iStock Images)
