Insights

Before calling a study site

Write down the study title, NCT number, sponsor name, location, phone number, and the page where you found the listing. If a recruiter calls you first, ask for the official listing link before discussing medical history. A real opportunity should survive a basic record check.

• Confirm whether the listing is still recruiting before sharing detailed health information.
• Ask whether screening is paid, how long it takes, and which tests may be done.
• Ask whether the advertised payment includes reimbursement or whether travel costs are handled separately.
• Ask how many visits are required, whether any are fasting visits, and how narrow the arrival windows are.
• Ask what happens if labs, medication history, or recent participation make you ineligible after screening.

Keep your own study record

Study listings, recruiter calls, consent forms, and visit schedules can use different wording. Keep a simple record of the terms you were given: payment amount, payment timing, visit dates, fasting requirements, reimbursement rules, contact names, and after-hours numbers. Bring that record to screening and update it when the consent form adds details.

If the study site changes a visit date, asks for additional records, changes payment timing, or adds follow-up tasks, write down who told you and when. That record helps you compare studies and keeps small details from turning into missed visits, unpaid travel, or confusion about whether a task is required.

Pick the topic by the decision in front of you

Use Screening and Eligibility when you are deciding whether to call. Use Compensation and Payment when the headline amount is attractive but the visit schedule is unclear. Use Site Legitimacy when a recruiter contacts you first, asks for records early, or uses a communication path you cannot verify. Use Diaries and Follow-Up when the study includes daily entries, devices, samples, or phone calls after the visit.

Do not read every topic before making a first call. Read the topic that matches the risk you are trying to control, then write down the questions you need answered before you schedule screening.