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Clinical trials: Three common myths, explained

Published on 6 August 2026

Many patients remain unsure about clinical trials in Singapore. A clinical research coordinator explains three common misconceptions.

According to a 2020 study conducted in the US, nine in 10 participants in clinical trials reported being satisfied with their experience. Yet many patients still hesitate when the option to participate in a clinical trial is raised.

Some may have concerns about being treated as a “guinea pig”. Others worry they might be given a placebo — which looks like a treatment but contains no active medicine — or think clinical trials are only for patients who have run out of options.

Clinical Research Coordinator Ms Jesslin Hong encounters these concerns regularly while guiding patients through the clinical trial process at the National University Health System (NUHS).

Myth 1: "I will be used as a guinea pig."

Ms Hong said this was often the first concern raised by patients. However, patients can be assured that extensive safeguards are in place to protect their interests.

In Singapore, clinical trials are tightly regulated. Before participants can be enrolled, each study must receive approval from both an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Participation is entirely voluntary and individuals may withdraw at any time without affecting their ongoing medical care.

Ms Hong said that understanding these safeguards often helped patients feel more comfortable about participation.

Myth 2: "I might receive a placebo instead of real treatment."

Many people picture being handed a sugar pill and left to hope for the best. In reality, that is not how most trials are designed.

Under HSA guidelines, participants in the control arm of a trial receive standard treatment, not a placebo. A placebo is only used when no established treatment exists for a condition. Even then, it is clearly explained to participants during the consent-taking process.

Participants are also monitored more closely than in routine care, and study teams schedule regular visits to check on their wellbeing and run tests as the trial goes on.

Myth 3: "Clinical trials are only for people who have run out of options."

Clinical trials are not limited to patients who have exhausted all available treatments.

Clinical research typically progresses through four phases, each with a different purpose.

Phase 1	Researchers test a treatment's safety, usually in healthy volunteers.
Phase 2	The treatment is given to patients to see how well it works.
Phase 3	The treatment is tested in larger groups and compared with existing treatments.
Phase 4	The treatment continues to be monitored after approval to assess long-term safety and effectiveness.

Clinical trials may be discussed at different stages of treatment, depending on a patient’s condition and the objectives of the study.

Beyond personal treatment, Ms Hong said, many clinical trial participants were driven by a desire to contribute to research and support future patients, knowing that their involvement could help advance medical knowledge.

Under Singapore's Health Products Act and the Medicines Act, every participant in a clinical trial is entitled to:

Be fully informed about the trial's objective, procedures, risks, benefits, and alternative treatments before agreeing to participate.
Ask questions about any aspect of the trial at any stage of the process.
Make a voluntary decision to participate, free from coercion, pressure, or undue influence.
Withdraw from the trial at any time, without penalty or compromise to ongoing medical care.

The person behind the process

For many participants, the clinical research coordinator is the most consistent point of contact throughout a trial.

Ms Hong coordinates appointments, manages day-to-day queries, and guides participants through the consent process step by step. She said her approach involves breaking information into manageable sections, encouraging questions and allowing individuals time to make informed decisions.

The experience was often different from what participants expected. While many arrived anticipating a rigid or intimidating process, Ms Hong said they instead found dedicated teams that prioritised their wellbeing.

She said she valued seeing participants become more confident and engaged as they developed a clearer understanding of the research.

For Ms Hong, one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is the rapport she builds with participants and their families. Some remain in touch even after a trial has ended, reflecting the trust built throughout the process.