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Completing the pre-screener

8 min read
Last updated: October 27, 2025

The pre-screener is the initial step in identifying whether you may qualify for one or more clinical trials listed on the DecenTrialz platform. It is a brief, confidential questionnaire designed to assess general eligibility before any information is shared with research teams.

This section explains the purpose of the pre-screener, what types of questions you will encounter, and how your information is securely handled.

Purpose of the pre-screener

The primary objective of the pre-screener is to gather essential, non-sensitive details about your health background and location. This enables our platform to:

  • Identify clinical trials that align with your general eligibility profile
  • Minimize unnecessary outreach from trials for which you clearly do not qualify
  • Ensure your control over when and how your data is shared with research teams

Please note: Completing the pre-screener does not enroll you in a clinical trial. It is an optional, informational step intended to help you explore available research opportunities.

What to expect during the pre-screener

The pre-screener is divided into two core categories of questions:

a. Basic health and medical information

These questions help us determine if you may be a suitable match for clinical trials with specific health-related criteria. You may be asked about:

  • Any current or past medical diagnoses
  • Ongoing medications or therapies
  • Relevant surgical history or major health events
  • Your age and biological sex (required for eligibility in many trials)

You will not be asked for sensitive data such as your Social Security Number, insurance details, or complete medical records.

For more information, see below [Health Questions].

b. Location and contact details

To ensure you are matched with trials based on geographic feasibility, we will ask for:

  • Your city and state of residence
  • Willingness or ability to travel, if needed
  • Your preferred contact method (e.g., phone number or email address)

This allows our platform to prioritize studies in your region or those that offer remote participation.

For more information, see below [Location/Contact Details].

Estimated completion Time

The pre-screener typically takes less than five minutes to complete. You may pause the process and return later, provided your browser session remains open.

Data security and privacy

Your responses are handled in accordance with the highest data protection standards, including compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Specifically:

  • Your information is never shared with any research team without your explicit consent
  • All data is encrypted and stored using secure, access-controlled systems
  • The information you provide is used solely for clinical trial matching and referral — never for commercial advertising or third-party marketing

Key Note: You are not obligated to complete the pre-screener or proceed beyond any step. You may exit the process at any time. The purpose of the pre-screener is to provide you with a secure, transparent way to explore trial options at your own pace and with full control over your participation decisions.

Health questions

As part of the pre-screener process on the DecenTrialz platform, you will be asked a short series of general health questions. These questions are designed to determine whether your current medical profile may preliminarily align with the eligibility criteria of clinical trials listed on our platform.

This is not a diagnostic evaluation or full medical assessment. Rather, it serves as an early, participant-controlled screening tool to help match you with relevant research opportunities.

Why these questions are asked

Each clinical trial is governed by specific inclusion and exclusion criteria that define who may participate. These criteria are determined by the study sponsor or research investigators and often include considerations such as:

  • The medical condition under investigation (e.g., Type 2 Diabetes, Asthma, Anxiety)
  • The severity or stage of the condition
  • Prior diagnoses, treatments, or procedures
  • Current medications, symptoms, or health risks

The health-related questions in the pre-screener allow the platform to filter out trials that would clearly not be appropriate for your profile. This protects your time, privacy, and avoids unnecessary outreach from research sites.

Examples of health questions you may encounter

The following are common categories of questions that may appear in the pre-screener:

1. Diagnosis or Condition Status

These questions help assess whether you have previously or currently experience the condition being studied.

  • Have you ever been diagnosed with [specific condition]?
  • Are you currently receiving treatment for this condition?

2. Treatment History

These questions identify whether you have undergone relevant medical procedures or used specific medications.

  • Have you taken medication for this condition within the past six months?
  • Have you had any surgeries related to this diagnosis?

3. Current Symptoms

These questions gather insight into present-day health experiences that may be relevant to study eligibility.

  • Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?
  • How often do you experience [specific symptom]?

4. Other Relevant Medical Factors

Certain clinical trials require awareness of additional health conditions or physiological states.

  • Are you currently pregnant or breastfeeding?
  • Do you use any implanted medical devices (e.g., pacemaker, insulin pump)?

Important: You are not required to upload test reports, disclose insurance details, or share physician records at this stage.

How your responses are used

  • Your responses are automatically compared with the general eligibility filters of active clinical trials.
  • DecenTrialz does not make medical decisions or diagnoses based on your answers.
  • You may review and edit your responses before submitting them.
  • No personal or health-related information is shared with any third party unless you explicitly opt in for referral.

Key Note: You may skip individual questions or exit the pre-screener entirely at any time. Your participation in the pre-screener is voluntary and confidential. The information you provide is used exclusively to guide your exploration of potential clinical trial opportunities and is never used for advertising or shared for commercial purposes.

Location and contact details

In addition to health-related questions, the DecenTrialz pre-screener includes a brief section where you are asked to provide your geographic location and preferred contact method. These details are essential for ensuring that any potential trial matches are geographically relevant or offer remote participation options.

All information you provide is stored securely and will not be shared with any research team or third party without your explicit consent.

Why location and contact information are important

Most clinical trials are hosted at specific research sites, including hospitals, clinics, or academic research institutions. While some studies may offer remote or hybrid options, many still require in-person visits for procedures, labs, or assessments.

Providing your general location allows DecenTrialz to:

  • Match you with studies near your place of residence or within your preferred travel range
  • Filter out studies that are not available in your region
  • Help identify decentralized or remote-participation trials, when applicable

Information You May Be Asked to Provide

The location and contact section of the pre-screener typically requests the following details:

1. City, state, and country

You will be asked to enter your current place of residence, which may include:

  • Your city or town
  • The applicable U.S. state (for domestic participants)
  • Your country of residence

This helps narrow down geographically relevant trials based on eligibility and trial site proximity.

2. Willingness to travel

Some studies may ask participants to visit a trial site periodically. You may be asked:

  • Whether you are open to traveling for a clinical study
  • Your maximum preferred travel range (e.g., within 10 miles, 25 miles, or more)

These questions are optional and do not impact your ability to view or be matched to remote-eligible studies.

3. Preferred method of contact

In the event that you are matched to a trial and choose to proceed with a referral, the research team may need a way to contact you. You may be asked for:

  • Your name (optional during pre-screening)
  • A phone number and/or email address
  • Your preferred method of communication (e.g., phone call, text, or email)

You are free to indicate your contact preferences or opt out of providing this information if you do not wish to proceed further.

Data privacy and consent

  • Your location and contact details are not shared with any trial site unless you opt in and provide explicit consent
  • If you choose to move forward with a referral, only the information necessary to initiate contact is securely transmitted to the research team
  • You may update or request the deletion of your information at any time by contacting support@decentrialz.com

Key Note: Providing accurate location and contact information helps improve the precision of trial matching. However, sharing your contact information is entirely voluntary. You will never be contacted by a research site unless you have explicitly agreed to be referred, and you may withdraw or modify your information at any time.

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