Survey suggests docs could improve trial enrollment

Photo by Rhoda Baer

Results of a nationwide poll indicate that many Americans believe participation in clinical trials is important.

And most of the individuals surveyed said they would participate in a trial if their doctor recommended it.

However, many respondents said they learned of clinical trials via the Internet, not from discussions with their physician. And most said a physician’s recommendation was an important factor in the decision to enroll in a clinical trial.

This poll was conducted online by Zogby Analytics. The results are available on the Research!America website.

The goal of the survey was to evaluate respondents’ perceptions about clinical trials and determine if perceptions differed according to racial groups. The survey included 684 non-Hispanic whites, 406 Hispanics, 403 African-Americans, and 300 Asians.

A willingness to participate

Most of the African-Americans (62%) and Hispanics (57%) polled said it’s very important to participate in a clinical trial to improve the health of others. Fifty percent of Asians agreed, as did 49% of non-Hispanic whites.

Furthermore, 75% of Hispanics, 72% of African-Americans, 71% of non-Hispanic whites, and 65% of Asians said they would likely participate in a clinical trial if it was recommended by a doctor.

And about three-quarters of all respondents said, assuming the correct privacy protections were in place, they would be willing to share personal health information to advance medical research.

“The poll reveals a willingness among minorities to participate in clinical trials to improve the quality of healthcare, but enrollment remains stubbornly low,” said Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America.

Among those individuals surveyed, only 17% of Hispanics, 15% of African-Americans, 15% of non-Hispanic whites, and 11% of Asians said they or a family member had participated in a clinical trial.

When asked to give a reason for low enrollment in clinical trials, most respondents cited a lack of trust—61% of African-Americans, 54% of non-Hispanic whites, 52% of Hispanics, and 51% of Asians.

The importance of physicians, institutions

Many of the individuals surveyed said they had learned of clinical trials via the Internet—56% of Asians, 52% of non-Hispanic whites, 50% of African-Americans, and 45% of Hispanics.

Far fewer said they had heard of trials during discussions with their doctors—22% of Hispanics, 22% of non-Hispanic whites, 20% of Asians, and 17% of African-Americans.

And most respondents said a doctor’s recommendation is a “very” or “somewhat” important factor in the decision to participate in a clinical trial—81% of Hispanics, 81% of non-Hispanic whites, 80% of Asians, and 78% of African-Americans.

Institutional reputation was also deemed an important factor by 74% of African-Americans, 72% of non-Hispanic whites, 66% of Hispanics, and 66% of Asians.

And many respondents said healthcare providers should play a major role in raising awareness of clinical trials. In fact, 42% of non-Hispanic whites, 38% of Hispanics, 36% of Asians, and 33% of African-Americans said providers have the greatest responsibility in educating the public about clinical trials.

“It’s imperative that healthcare providers and others help patients gain a deeper knowledge of clinical trials so all Americans can benefit from life-saving treatments,” Woolley said.

This survey was conducted by Zogby Analytics for Research!America, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations, the Clinical Research Forum, the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, and the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative.

Photo by Rhoda Baer

Results of a nationwide poll indicate that many Americans believe participation in clinical trials is important.

And most of the individuals surveyed said they would participate in a trial if their doctor recommended it.

However, many respondents said they learned of clinical trials via the Internet, not from discussions with their physician. And most said a physician’s recommendation was an important factor in the decision to enroll in a clinical trial.

This poll was conducted online by Zogby Analytics. The results are available on the Research!America website.

The goal of the survey was to evaluate respondents’ perceptions about clinical trials and determine if perceptions differed according to racial groups. The survey included 684 non-Hispanic whites, 406 Hispanics, 403 African-Americans, and 300 Asians.

A willingness to participate

Most of the African-Americans (62%) and Hispanics (57%) polled said it’s very important to participate in a clinical trial to improve the health of others. Fifty percent of Asians agreed, as did 49% of non-Hispanic whites.

Furthermore, 75% of Hispanics, 72% of African-Americans, 71% of non-Hispanic whites, and 65% of Asians said they would likely participate in a clinical trial if it was recommended by a doctor.

And about three-quarters of all respondents said, assuming the correct privacy protections were in place, they would be willing to share personal health information to advance medical research.

“The poll reveals a willingness among minorities to participate in clinical trials to improve the quality of healthcare, but enrollment remains stubbornly low,” said Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America.

Among those individuals surveyed, only 17% of Hispanics, 15% of African-Americans, 15% of non-Hispanic whites, and 11% of Asians said they or a family member had participated in a clinical trial.

When asked to give a reason for low enrollment in clinical trials, most respondents cited a lack of trust—61% of African-Americans, 54% of non-Hispanic whites, 52% of Hispanics, and 51% of Asians.

The importance of physicians, institutions

Many of the individuals surveyed said they had learned of clinical trials via the Internet—56% of Asians, 52% of non-Hispanic whites, 50% of African-Americans, and 45% of Hispanics.

Far fewer said they had heard of trials during discussions with their doctors—22% of Hispanics, 22% of non-Hispanic whites, 20% of Asians, and 17% of African-Americans.

And most respondents said a doctor’s recommendation is a “very” or “somewhat” important factor in the decision to participate in a clinical trial—81% of Hispanics, 81% of non-Hispanic whites, 80% of Asians, and 78% of African-Americans.

Institutional reputation was also deemed an important factor by 74% of African-Americans, 72% of non-Hispanic whites, 66% of Hispanics, and 66% of Asians.

And many respondents said healthcare providers should play a major role in raising awareness of clinical trials. In fact, 42% of non-Hispanic whites, 38% of Hispanics, 36% of Asians, and 33% of African-Americans said providers have the greatest responsibility in educating the public about clinical trials.

“It’s imperative that healthcare providers and others help patients gain a deeper knowledge of clinical trials so all Americans can benefit from life-saving treatments,” Woolley said.

This survey was conducted by Zogby Analytics for Research!America, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations, the Clinical Research Forum, the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, and the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative.

Photo by Rhoda Baer

Results of a nationwide poll indicate that many Americans believe participation in clinical trials is important.

And most of the individuals surveyed said they would participate in a trial if their doctor recommended it.

However, many respondents said they learned of clinical trials via the Internet, not from discussions with their physician. And most said a physician’s recommendation was an important factor in the decision to enroll in a clinical trial.

This poll was conducted online by Zogby Analytics. The results are available on the Research!America website.

The goal of the survey was to evaluate respondents’ perceptions about clinical trials and determine if perceptions differed according to racial groups. The survey included 684 non-Hispanic whites, 406 Hispanics, 403 African-Americans, and 300 Asians.

A willingness to participate

Most of the African-Americans (62%) and Hispanics (57%) polled said it’s very important to participate in a clinical trial to improve the health of others. Fifty percent of Asians agreed, as did 49% of non-Hispanic whites.

Furthermore, 75% of Hispanics, 72% of African-Americans, 71% of non-Hispanic whites, and 65% of Asians said they would likely participate in a clinical trial if it was recommended by a doctor.

And about three-quarters of all respondents said, assuming the correct privacy protections were in place, they would be willing to share personal health information to advance medical research.

“The poll reveals a willingness among minorities to participate in clinical trials to improve the quality of healthcare, but enrollment remains stubbornly low,” said Mary Woolley, president and CEO of Research!America.

Among those individuals surveyed, only 17% of Hispanics, 15% of African-Americans, 15% of non-Hispanic whites, and 11% of Asians said they or a family member had participated in a clinical trial.

When asked to give a reason for low enrollment in clinical trials, most respondents cited a lack of trust—61% of African-Americans, 54% of non-Hispanic whites, 52% of Hispanics, and 51% of Asians.

The importance of physicians, institutions

Many of the individuals surveyed said they had learned of clinical trials via the Internet—56% of Asians, 52% of non-Hispanic whites, 50% of African-Americans, and 45% of Hispanics.

Far fewer said they had heard of trials during discussions with their doctors—22% of Hispanics, 22% of non-Hispanic whites, 20% of Asians, and 17% of African-Americans.

And most respondents said a doctor’s recommendation is a “very” or “somewhat” important factor in the decision to participate in a clinical trial—81% of Hispanics, 81% of non-Hispanic whites, 80% of Asians, and 78% of African-Americans.

Institutional reputation was also deemed an important factor by 74% of African-Americans, 72% of non-Hispanic whites, 66% of Hispanics, and 66% of Asians.

And many respondents said healthcare providers should play a major role in raising awareness of clinical trials. In fact, 42% of non-Hispanic whites, 38% of Hispanics, 36% of Asians, and 33% of African-Americans said providers have the greatest responsibility in educating the public about clinical trials.

“It’s imperative that healthcare providers and others help patients gain a deeper knowledge of clinical trials so all Americans can benefit from life-saving treatments,” Woolley said.

This survey was conducted by Zogby Analytics for Research!America, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations, the Clinical Research Forum, the Friends of the National Library of Medicine, and the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative.