📝 Show-and-Tell: What Patients Really Need to See Before Saying 'Yes' to a Clinical Trial
- maryrburrell
- Dec 9, 2025
- 3 min read
Some days, clinical trials remind me of show-and-tell back in kindergarten.
Remember that? You didn’t just talk about your awesome toy — you brought it in! You showed it. You let people hold it, look at it, and ask questions to really understand what made it special.
Honestly… I wish clinical trials were more like that.
Before anyone tries to “explain the benefits” or hands me a huge stack of papers with words I can barely pronounce, I want to see — really see — what this trial means for me as a real person, not just a file name in a computer.
The Patient’s “Show-and-Tell” List
Yes, the giant consent form is important. But it almost never shows the human side of the trial. For most of us, the decision comes down to one thing:
Do I feel safe and supported?
Here’s what I wish trial teams would actually show us:
1. What Support Looks Like
Real talk: Tell me the practical stuff.Will you help with gas, parking, or rides?If I have a procedure, who’s calling to check on me and help schedule follow-ups?
Support shouldn’t be a mystery — show me exactly what’s covered and who’s helping.
2. What Follow-Up Feels Like
Real talk: I need more than a calendar.How many visits are in person? How many are video calls?Will my regular doctor be updated?And if I feel sick at night, who do I call?
(FYI: Every trial has a 24/7 emergency number… but almost nobody leads with that.)
3. Who My Point Person Is
Real talk: Show me their photo and give me their number.Patients don’t want to explain their story to a different person every time.
We need one steady coordinator — someone who knows our history and keeps us connected. That’s how trust grows.
4. What Happens If I Get Scared or Confused
Real talk: Show me the “quit” button.Patients can leave a trial any time, for any reason, and still get full medical care. That’s the law.
Teams should clearly explain how to speak up, how to ask questions, and how to step out safely if we need to.
5. How My Life Might Actually Get Better
Real talk: Show me more than charts.The science looks at how the disease is changing.
Patients look at how life is changing:
Can I walk farther?
Sleep better?
Spend more time with the people I love?
Tell me how the study measures real life — not just lab numbers.
And honestly?
Patients don’t say yes because of perfect math.We say yes because someone made us feel safe enough to take a chance on the “maybe.”
🌁 From the HeartBridge Collective (HBC)
This is exactly why I created HBC — to bring humanity back into clinical trials and complex care. After two years in hospice and becoming one of the early U.S. tricuspid feasibility patients, I saw just how confusing and lonely this journey can be.
Most of us aren’t struggling with the science.We’re struggling with:
unclear information
too many people involved
not knowing who to call
emotional overload
gaps between appointments
fear of making the wrong decision
HBC was built to close those gaps.
We focus on plain-language education, lived-experience support, and giving patients the tools and confidence to walk through their journey feeling prepared and not overwhelmed.
🌁 HeartBridge Collective — bridging hearts, minds, and innovation, one lived experience at a time.
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