Study Finds Participation in Clinical Trials Low

Researchers at the University of Michigan recently published study results in Clinical and Translational Science that indicated that only 11% of adults and 5% of children in a nationally representative survey had ever participated in medical research.

Data indicated that approximately 64% of adults were aware of opportunities to participate in medical research, but only 12% of parents were aware of opportunities for their children. Participation in and awareness of research among adults were associated with higher income and education, older age, presence of chronic conditions, and proximity to specific research sites.

The research sites of note are centers identified by the NIH that receive multimillion-dollar grants as part of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program. The goal is to speed scientific discoveries into treatments.

In a press release, Matthew Davis, MD, MAPP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, said, “Researchers and institutions need to spread the word more effectively” about opportunities for inclusion in important clinical research. It would seem that the CTSA sites are successful at attracting interest and participation and that their tactics merit investigation.

You can read the study abstract here and learn more about the CTSA program here.