Clinical Trial Facts & Figures for Health Professionals

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• One recent study of 494 hospitals has shown that institutions that participate in clinical trials report lower mortality (deaths) from heart attacks, leading researchers to conclude that patients treated at hospitals that participate in clinical trials receive better quality of care and achieve better health outcomes than those treated at non- participating organizations. (Clinilabs, April 2008)
  
  
• Studies have shown that while 44% of people find out about studies through the media, only 14% gain the information from their physicians. (Harris Interactive)
  
  
• Industry data suggests that fewer than 4% of all U.S. physicians participate in clinical trials.
  
  
• One study showed that 10% of volunteers did not look at the informed consent before signing it; 18% signed without input from their personal physicians, nurse, family member, or trusted individual; and 70% reported that, at the onset of the informed consent process, they did not know what questions to ask. (Applied Clinical Trials)
  
  
• Most adult cancer patient who participate in clinical trials say that a physician had a great deal of influence on their decision to participate. (Harris Interactive)
  
  
• Even though most people do not rely on their physicians for information, 78% of the public say the physician is their most trusted source of information. (CenterWatch)
  
  
• More than half of respondents would have greater trust in clinical research information if the results were made available on a public website registry.
  
  
• A new survey in May 2008, released by the Society for Women’s Health Research indicates 94 percent Americans have never been informed by their doctors of medical research studies they might participate in. On the other hand, more than 70 percent of those who have participated are likely to do so again. (Research America)
  
  
• Only 7% of Americans say that their doctors have ever suggested that they participate in a clinical study.
  
  
• The United State's pharmaceutical and biotechnology research companies put forth a record $58.8 billion in the year 2007 towards the research and development of new life changing medicines and vaccines. This is an increase of nearly $3 billion since 2006. (Phrma 2008)
  
  
• Over the past seven years America's pharmaceutical research companies have consistently invested 18% of their sales on research and development projects. (Phrma 2008)
  
  
• 60% of physicians surveyed by CenterWatch in 2006 said that they have referred patients to clinical trials.  Those that had not referred patients into trials, explain that their number one hindrance to participation was the lack of information available about the treatments. 7% of these physicians said they feared losing the patient. (CenterWatch)
  
  
• The most common areas that the doctors referred their patients to were cardiology, oncology and psychology.
  
  
• The involvement of minority physicians has been shown to have a positive impact on minority in clinical trials. At this time, only about 7% of all physicians in the United States belong to a minority group and a very small percentage are actively involved in clinical research. Several medical societies and associations are now looking for ways to encourage minority physician involvement in clinical trials. (Ken Getz, Informed Consent)

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