January 2007, Vol. 4 Issue 1

NATIONAL POLL SHOWS THAT RELATIVELY FEW AMERICANS ADMIRE CLINICAL TRIAL PARTICIPANTS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO MEDICAL SCIENCE

A recent national survey of 900 adults finds that only one-third of the public greatly admires people who participate in clinical trials.  This compares with 84% who greatly admire organ donors and 68% who greatly admire those who donate blood. The survey, jointly conducted in mid-December 2006 by the independent non-profit organization Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) and polling firm Opinion Dynamics Corporation (ODC) is the first survey to measure public recognition of the role that clinical research participants play in advancing medical science. To view detailed results of the survey, click here.

When asked which group makes the greatest contribution to mankind, the CISCRP-ODC poll finds that 40% of the public believes that organ donors make the greatest contribution to mankind, 29% believe that a person who gives blood makes the greatest contribution to mankind,10% of the public believes that people who raise money for charity make the greatest contribution to mankind,  while 9% of the public believes that clinical trial volunteers make the greatest contribution to mankind. 

CISCRP President & CEO Roni Thaler stated, “Even though 94% of the public recognizes that participation in clinical research is important to advancing medical science clearly this doesn’t translate into respect and admiration for the clinical research volunteer. This points to the need to increase public education and understanding about the important role of the clinical research volunteer. The lack of participants is causing a delay in the approval of new drugs and treatments.”

Indeed, institutions and companies that conduct clinical trials have had difficulty in recruiting an adequate number of volunteers. It is estimated that more than 90% of studies are now delayed at least one month in large part because of the difficulty in finding individuals to participate.  

“The results of this poll are not really surprising,” said Ken Getz, CISCRP’s Chairman.  “Organ and blood donorship, and sports fundraising events get a lot of publicity. Clinical research is largely out of the public eye. Given the integral role that study volunteers play in bringing successful new treatments to market, research professionals in government and industry, as well as other stakeholders, need to do more to raise general public awareness and clinical research literacy.”

This is the fourth in a series of polls that CISCRP and ODC have conducted to increase understanding of the public’s views regarding clinical research participation.

To view other articles in this issue, click here.