Wondering what a day in a clinic looks like? You're not the only one! When you participate in clinical trials (at QPS or elsewhere) for the first time, there is a lot to discover. How do you spend your time, what are the other participants like, how friendly are the doctors and nursing staff? But also: what is expected of you?
A day in a clinic differs per clinical trial, but all studies have a number of elements in common. Below, we will outline a sample situation and take you through a period of stay with us in the clinic. What does your actual research period look like? That depends on the clinical trial in which you participate. It will be explained to you when you arrive at the clinic. Because that's where it all starts...
Every stay starts with a warm welcome. After you’ve settled in, the doctors and nurses briefly explain the clinical trial and perform some final checks. After this, it is determined who is a reserve participant and who becomes a participant. If you are designated as a reserve, you will, just to be sure, stay until the first dose: the moment at which the medicine that is the subject of study is administered. If someone drops out - for example because they have not followed the restrictions and are no longer eligible - you are a substitute participant. If not, you are allowed to go home after the first dose. Have you been designated as a participant and has the first dose been administered? Then your participation in the clinical trial has officially started!
In this video Nick explains how he experienced his stay at QPS
There are two types of day during the period of stay: What we call a 'treatment day', and a regular day. Let's explain the difference:
Do you have any other questions about your stay at the clinic? View our frequently asked questions or contact us.
Days in the clinic often start a little differently than you are used to at home. Not with breakfast, but with checking a number of essential aspects. In addition to your health, which we check on the basis of your vital functions and a short conversation, we also check the indwelling cannula. We draw some blood and you can just relax in bed while waiting for administration of the medication. After administering the (initial) dose, we check your vital functions again and take another blood sample. We also make a number of ECGs.
After having been given the medication, you may not eat anything for a while, but often you can have lunch a few hours later. There is plenty to choose from! Sweet and savoury, plenty of fruit and yogurt and a choice of various types of bread, crackers or rusks. Participants often eat lunch together, as this is more fun than eating alone!
The afternoons are often free. There are multiple moments at which we take a blood sample, but there is also a lot of time for relaxation. You get an afternoon snack such as raw vegetables or a muesli bar and around 7 pm we sit down for dinner together. We do the last wellbeing check around 10 pm. At that time, there is also a snack for those who feel like it. After a final check of the indwelling cannula, it’s time to go to bed around 11 pm.
Just like the treatment day, a regular day also starts with checking the indwelling cannula, measuring values and checking up on how you feel. Once all medical procedures have finished, your breakfast will be ready for you. As with lunch, there is an extensive selection with something for everyone. On a regular day in the clinic, we often take blood samples in the morning and late in the evening. In between those times, you are - within the limits of the clinical trial - free to do as you please. Meals are taken around the same times on both types of day.
Everything comes to an end, including your stay in the clinic. After days of games, Netflix, gaming, reading books and studying or working, you get ready to leave. This ends the stay at our clinic, but the clinical trial itself has not quite finished yet. Your stay in the clinic may be followed by single visits (also known as 'return days') and a follow-up examination. You will come to Groningen for these visits. You can return home immediately after the examination.
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| 8:00 |
Flushing or checking the indwelling cannula (an IV needle with a tube attached through which blood samples can be taken) |
| 8:00 |
You are not allowed to drink any water until 12 noon |
| 9:00 |
We check your vital functions (Blood pressure, pulse (heart rate), temperature) |
| 9:00 |
We draw up a wellbeing report (How do you feel, do you experience anything abnormal?) |
| 9:30 |
Blood sampling |
| 9:50 |
Double check (extra check to see if you are suitable) and randomisation (randomly and blindly determining who will become a participant and who will be on standby, and whether you will receive the drug or a placebo) |
| 9:55 |
Pre-dose procedures check |
| 10:00 |
Administration of dose of medicine |
| 10:00 |
Blood sampling |
| 11:00 |
Wellbeing report |
| 12:00 |
You are allowed to drink water again |
| 12:00 |
Blood sampling |
| 14:00 |
Blood sampling |
| 14:00 |
We make three ECGs |
| 14:00 |
Wellbeing report |
| 14:00 |
Lunch (bread with toppings, water or tea, fresh fruit) |
| 16:00 |
Blood sampling |
| 16:00 |
Afternoon snack (vegetable snack, muesli bar) |
| 18:00 |
Blood sampling & wellbeing report |
| 19:00 |
Dinner (potatoes, vegetables and meat or meat substitute) |
| 22:00 |
Blood sampling & wellbeing report |
| 22:00 |
Evening snack (tea and a biscuit) |
| 23:00 |
Flushing and check of indwelling cannula |
| Time | Action |
|---|---|
| 8:00 |
Flushing and check of indwelling cannula |
| 10:00 |
Blood sampling and check of vital functions |
| 10:00 |
Wellbeing report |
| 10:00 |
Breakfast (immediately after medical procedure) |
| 13:00 |
Lunch |
| 14:00 |
Wellbeing report |
| 15:00 |
Afternoon snack |
| 18:00 |
Dinner |
| 21:30 |
Evening snack |
| 22:00 |
Blood sampling |
| 23:00 |
Wellbeing report |
By giving up a bit of your time, you could make the lives of people with various conditions a whole lot better. Together with our participants, we at QPS study possible new medicines for millions of patients worldwide. In addition to making an important social contribution, there are more reasons to participate:
