When pharmaceutical companies and medical supply manufacturers bring a new product on the market, it has to go through a period of testing first. This is usually done with the help of people who enroll in paid research studies to see how the drug or product will affect them. Payment is given to compensate for the time involved and to work as an incentive to get people to participate in the research. Here are some things to know if you'd like to participate in a research study.

Commit To The Entire Study Before You Start

Research studies are very important to the medical companies, so it's important to take your participation seriously. If you have unpleasant side effects or some other emergency comes up, it's okay to leave the study. You can quit the study at any time, but you should commit to sticking with the program until it's completion so the research team can gather all the data they need.

The length of research studies varies according to the product being tested. The study may require a full day of observation or it might require weekly visits over a period of a few months. The entire program is explained before you start so you can determine if you'll make all the necessary appointments and comply with the requirements.

You Qualify Based On Your Health History

You'll have to qualify to be accepted into a study. Some seek healthy subjects while others look for people with a specific diagnosis. Before you're accepted into the study, you'll have a physical exam and history taken to determine if you're a good match. Your lifestyle, symptoms, and medications are considered because some factors may cloud the study results. However, being on medication does not automatically disqualify you. Once you start a research study, you shouldn't change your medications or supplements without notifying the research team.

The Payment Varies

While payment for participation is a nice incentive, there are other reasons to be a research subject. It's often an interesting experience and you may want to participate if you have the medical disease that's being studied. You may want to help find a cure for a disease that a loved one suffers with. Being a research subject is an important and worthwhile investment of your time, but the money might be important too.

The amount you get paid varies by study. You'll get paid more if you need to stay in the research facility overnight, and you get paid more for longer studies. If you need to stop in the middle of the program due to side effects, you might be paid a prorated amount for your participation. Payment for the study will likely be distributed once the study has completed rather than being paid out on weekly visits.

Research studies are carried out on all types of medications and products, so it's possible you'll find one you qualify for if you keep in touch with a research facility and their calendar of upcoming studies. Apply early, if possible, because the studies are often limited to a set number of people and once they're full they close to new participants.