Another: Is this clinical experience? question about clinical research

[Drythagoras]

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Seen conflicting answers on Clinical Research, hope this also helps others in similar situations.

The experience
The experience I want to use as my most meaningful clinical is a prospective study (~500-1k hours, 1-2 years). I call patients, schedule them for a visit with me immediately prior to their other appointments, labs, or PM&R. None of them are research participants alone, and most are quite sick.

In the visit with me, I describe the the what+why of the study, I consent the patient, direct them through a battery of physiological tasks, and direct them them through answering clinical questionnaires.

I'm sitting across the patient 1-on-1 for nearly 30 mins in an exam room, for a while in the PM&R area. I feel responsible for them during that time.

My questions
I'm not providing any care here though, does that mean it's not "clinical experience"?
I feel I've grown massively from this experience, and I would call it clinical on my app? Will adcoms see it this way? Do I need to explain this in a particular way to avoid raising red flags?

 

[LizzyM]

Is this employment?
If it is employment, I would call it employment/clinical.
If it is not employment, I would be hesitant to call it "volunteer/clinical" but I could stretch it that way if you are working through the volunteer office of the clinical facility.

If not, you could call it "research". Describe what you do. That is more important than any label. That you are face-to-face with patients who may become clinical research participants if they give their consent after talking with you, is a very valuable experience in my book. And of course you are responsible for them while they are with you. You need to assure their safety, their privacy, the confidentiality of their data.