You’ve qualified for a clinical research study, and you’re ready to participate. You check in with the staff, you settle in . . . and now what? If you plan what to do with your time during a clinical research study, you’ll be ready to enjoy it.
What to Do with Your Time During a Clinical Research Study
For many clinical research studies, the protocol that research participants follow can involve a stay of several hours, days, or sometimes several weeks. While the amount and type of free time you experience will vary based on the design of the study, most studies will include at least some free time for the participants involved. So, do you know what to do with your time during a clinical research study?
Check the Protocol Before You Plan
While it might be tempting to treat your clinical research study like a vacation, it’s important to remember that you will be participating in research while you are at the study. Because of that, there may be some restrictions on how you can spend your free time that you will want to be aware of. For example, some studies restrict the consumption of food if the researchers are monitoring results that may be affected by it. Since clinical trials involve informed consent for participants, you will be made aware of any restrictions you need to follow before the study begins, as well as the general schedule you will be following as you participate.
Pick the Right Activities
Since the free time you have will be largely dictated by study protocol, what you do with your free time will depend on what is required by that protocol. No matter what, you will want to plan on having a way to enjoy your time while you participate:
- Keep in mind that even though you will have some downtime, you may still be interrupted by various functions of the clinical research study. Self-contained activities that are easy to pick up and put down, such as books or games on your phone/tablet/laptop, are a great fit.
- The clinical research study organizers may provide some entertainment options for you, such as television and snack breaks. Feel free to enjoy their hospitality and socialize with your fellow participants as you participate in the study.
- You will have access to the internet while you participate in the study, so it can also be a great time to catch up on work or just surf the web and chat with your friends!
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If you still aren’t sure what to do with your time while participating in a clinical research study, don’t panic. Our staff is here to help you make the most of your time with us. We want your experience with QPS Missouri to be the best it can be.
Have you ever thought about participating in a clinical research study? You could be a part of history! QPS Missouri is looking for new participants. Since opening its doors in 1994, QPS Missouri has conducted more than 1,500 FDA-regulated studies, paying out nearly $50 million to local participants. Your local participation could have a global impact, as QPS is an international leader in contract research with facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Our mission is to accelerate the development of drugs worldwide by enabling breakthroughs in pharmaceutical innovation. This includes several pediatric studies across several age ranges. If you would like to join us in this crucial healthcare mission, consider applying for a clinical trial.
To get started, you simply need to fill out an online application. After that, within 48 business hours, a recruiting coordinator will contact you for your pre-screening assessment. To learn more, please visit the QPS Missouri website, review the study participation process, or check out our list of frequently asked questions.