Complete the side-by-side record

Decision area
IdentitySponsor, site, local status, last update
DesignArms, assignment ratio, masking, comparator
InterventionWhat I could receive or do
ProceduresVisits, tests, blood draws, imaging, devices
TimelineScreening, intervention, follow-up
TravelDistance, lodging, companion, transport limits
At-home workDiary, app, device, shipping, calls
RestrictionsMedication, food, activity, driving, other studies
Medical questionsRisks, possible benefit, alternatives, rescue care
PrivacyRecords, vendors, specimens, genetics, future use
ResultsIndividual results, incidental findings, aggregate results
MoneyAccrued payment, reimbursement, timing, costs
WithdrawalSafety follow-up, data, specimens, products, payment
UnansweredFacts that could change my decision

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Compare in a fixed order

  1. Verify each study and local location.
  2. Compare what you could be assigned.
  3. Map procedures and time.
  4. Review risks, possible benefit, and alternatives with qualified people.
  5. Trace records, data, specimens, and results.
  6. Calculate expenses and accrued payment.
  7. Name every unanswered question.

Stop before ranking the studies when a medical or consent fact is missing. Convenience cannot resolve an unknown safety issue.

Write a decision statement

Complete this sentence for each study: “I would consider this study if ________ is confirmed, because the schedule and requirements fit ________, and I have discussed ________ with the study team or my clinician.”

Then write a refusal condition: “I would decline if ________.” A specific boundary works better than a total score that mixes unlike factors.

Sources for this guide

Official guidance controls regulatory claims. Peer-reviewed research is identified when participant experience requires evidence beyond agency guidance. Links were checked September 5, 2026.

  1. Office for Human Research Protections. Questions to Ask About Volunteering for a Research Study (opens in a new tab).
  2. ClinicalTrials.gov. How to Read a Study Record (opens in a new tab).
  3. National Institute on Aging. Clinical Research: Benefits, Risks, and Safety (opens in a new tab).
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Clinical Trial Participation (opens in a new tab).