In the realm of medical breakthroughs and life-changing discoveries comes a topic that most people are unfamiliar with: human clinical trials. Before an important medication makes its way into our medical facilities and pharmacies, it must go through extensive testing to ensure its safety for the general population.
While many of these products are deemed safe for human consumption, they must withstand rigorous testing from volunteer patients as well as paid testers.
Paid Vs. Unpaid Test Subjects
Within the niche of medical trials comes the discussion of paid versus unpaid subjects that undergo experimental medication usage. While both groups provide pertinent data for researchers and medical professionals to examine, which group is more valuable in the long run?
With paid participants, you run the potential risk of a patient lying to you on the questionnaire. Since there is a financial incentive involved, participants are more likely to skim over the medical history portion of your screening or deny being allergic to certain substances.
However, incentivizing individuals for their willingness to test breakthrough medications means a higher-quality test group to extract data. When participants know they will be earning compensation for their time and effort, they tend to be younger, have better health and exercise positive life choices in their personal lives.
On the contrary, non-paid test subjects are willing to withstand extensive testing to assist with the medical research sector. Older patients and individuals who have life-threatening illnesses seek medical breakthroughs to alleviate or cure the symptoms they deal with daily.
There is a downside, however, to not paying test subjects for their time: Most individuals who volunteer themselves for medical trials are often older, have pre-existing medical ailments, and tend to be immobile. When testing cutting-edge medications, these characteristics can prove detrimental to researchers and medical professionals.
Strategies Moving Forward
Although both parties provide imperative data that can benefit the healthcare field, it pays—no pun intended—to compensate test subjects for their efforts and test involvement. At Altus Research, we believe that payment plans, as opposed to lump-sum compensation, are the best way to achieve high-quality results and reputable trial subjects.
Over time, test participants will feel as though they’re part of a medical team pushing the advancements of healthcare treatment and medical research. When those individuals receive financial compensation for their cooperation and effort, you effectively expedite the testing process and have punctual participants willing to work with your facility.
Reach Out
Here at Altus Research in South Florida, we aim to provide test subjects with the utmost care and attention. We have extensive experience dealing with clinical trials in phases 1 through 4, with impressive and pertinent data collected over the years.
If you are interested in working with us in the near future, contact us and see if Altus Research can provide the insight you need to make the correct choice. Our friendly staff and our team of professionals are waiting to hear from you, so give us a call!
