This booklet answers the questions that people with HIV often ask about clinical trials. It is meant to help you decide whether or not to take part in a particular study, and to help you in discussions with doctors and trial nurses before, and during, the trial. A glossary of some of the words and phrases used in trial information is on page xx.

Acknowledgments

Edited by Michael Carter

Fifth edition, 2006.

NAM is grateful to the funders of this booklet series:

NHS London HIV Consortium, Department of Health, NHS South West London HIV & GUM Commissioning Consortium, Derek Butler Trust and Healthsure Charitable Trust.

Thanks for the assistance of:

Professor Janet Darbyshire

Medical Research Council, London

Dr Philippa Easterbrook

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London

Dr Martin Fisher

Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton

Dr Graeme Moyle

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London

Maxine Troop

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London

Dr Mike Youle

Royal Free Hospital, London

Edward King & Peter Scott

formerly of NAM, authors of the first version of this booklet, published in 1993.

Participants in the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital 1997-98 study of Educational strategies in HIV clinical trials for giving their comments on the 1993 edition of this booklet.

Awards

The 1999 edition of this booklet received first prize in the BMA Medical Books Competition. The 2003 edition was commended in the BMA Medical Books Competition.