What taking part involves
Most people and families who contact us have never been in a research study before. Here's what actually happens, from the first phone call to the last visit.
We run two main kinds of studies.
Some test medications. Others test programs delivered through an app or online. They ask different things of you — a medication study means coming to our offices in Providence, while some app-based studies you can do entirely from home. Each study's page says which kind it is and what it would involve.
It starts with a phone call.
About fifteen minutes. We ask some questions to see whether a study might fit, and you ask us anything you want. Nothing is decided on this call, and calling doesn't commit you to anything.
Then a longer conversation.
If it looks like a fit, you and your teen meet the study team — in person or by video, depending on the study. We explain everything in detail: what we'd ask you to do, how long it lasts, what the risks are. Only then do you decide whether to enroll. If your teen is under 18, you go through this together, and both of you have to agree.
What we'll ask of you varies.
Some studies involve visits every week or two. Some ask you to answer a few short questions on your phone each day. Medication studies include check-ins with a physician or nurse practitioner. The study page tells you the specifics before you ever pick up the phone.
Who sees your information.
What you tell us stays with the study team and is kept separately from medical records. Before you enroll, we go through exactly what a parent does and doesn't see — teens deserve to know that upfront, and it differs by study.
You're paid for your time.
How much depends on the study, and each study page lists the amount. Payment is for your time and effort, not a reason to join.
You can stop whenever you want.
For any reason, or none. It won't affect care you receive at Bradley Hospital or anywhere else, and you can leave a study without leaving on bad terms — people do, and we'd rather they feel free to.
What if I don't qualify?
Most people who contact us aren't eligible for a given study — that's normal and it isn't a judgment about you. We can point you toward care either way.