Oncologic Patients' Misconceptions May Impede Enrollment Into Clinical Trials

Abstract Background Clinical trials are an essential source for advances in oncologic care, yet the enrollment rate is only 2-4%. Patients' reluctance to participate is an important barrier. This study evaluates patients' level of understanding and attitudes towards clinical trials.Methods Two-hundred patients receiving active anti-neoplastic therapy at a large tertiary hospital completed an anonymous questionnaire comprised of demographic information, past experience in clinical research and basic knowledge on clinical trials. Results The majority of respondents did not meet the minimum knowledge level criteria. The concerns of those who replied that they would decline to participate in a clinical trial were related to assignment to the placebo arm, provision of informed consent and trust issues with their oncologist. Those with adequate knowledge were significantly more interested in participating in. Patients with past experience in clinical trials had a higher level of academic education, were less religious, had a better understanding of medical research and were inclined to participate in future research.Conclusions Misperceptions of clinical trials may contribute substantially to the unwillingness to participate in them.Trial registration The study was approved by the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center ethics committee (0565-14-TLV January 7th, 2015) and it was conducted in full accordance with the guidelines for Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki. Agreement to respond to the questionnaire was taken as formal consent to participate in this study.