For trial participants

Information for patients taking part in CTAU-coordinated orthopaedic clinical trials

Taking part in a clinical trial

Clinical trials help improve treatment for future patients. If you have been invited to participate in a CTAU-coordinated trial, this page explains what to expect.

 

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a research study that tests how well a treatment, device, or approach works. Trials help doctors and surgeons understand which treatments provide the best outcomes for patients.

CTAU-coordinated trials are conducted under strict ethical and governance oversight. All studies are reviewed by ethics committees and must meet Australian regulatory standards before any participants are enrolled.

 

What participation involves

Depending on the trial, participation may involve:
  • receiving a specific surgical approach or implant being studied
  • attending follow-up appointments to monitor your recovery
  • completing questionnaires about your pain, function, and quality of life
  • allowing your de-identified outcome data to be recorded for research purposes.

Your participation is voluntary

Participation in any clinical trial is entirely voluntary. You can withdraw at any time without affecting your ongoing medical care. Your surgeon will discuss the trial with you and answer any questions before you decide whether to take part.

Informed consent

Before joining a trial, you will be given an information sheet that explains:
  • The purpose of the study
  • What the treatment involves
  • Potential benefits and risks
  • What data will be collected and how it will be used
  • Your right to withdraw at any time
You will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the study with your treating surgeon before signing a consent form.

 

How your data is protected

CTAU takes data privacy seriously. All trial data is handled under strict governance:
  • Your personal information is kept separate from research data.
  • data is de-identified before analysis — your name is not attached to research results.
  • Re-identification of participants from released data is prohibited.
  • All data is stored securely and access is restricted.
  • Data is only used for the purposes you have consented to.

Privacy commitment

CTAU and its partner organisations (AOANJRR and CDMS) maintain separate accountability for data. Your surgeon-identifiability risk is actively managed through formal data governance policies and ethical oversight.

Trial safety and oversight

All CTAU-coordinated trials are monitored for safety throughout their duration. This includes:
  • regular safety reporting to ethics committees
  • independent oversight through the CTAU governance structure (AOA Board → CTAU Management Committee → CTAU Working Group)
  • monitoring of progress, safety, quality, budget, and outputs.

Current trials open to recruitment

To see which CTAU-coordinated trials are currently recruiting participants, visit our Current trials page:
View current trials

Question about your participation?

If you are currently enrolled in a CTAU-coordinated trial and have questions, please contact your treating surgeon or the study coordinator at your hospital site.

For general enquiries about CTAU and its research: