P94
PATIENTS’ OPINION OF EARLY PHASE DRUG TRIALS ADVERTISEMENT
A Ullah, T. Ganguly, R. Fitzgerald, T. Foster, L. Burgess, E. Griffin, S. Bunn & M. Howse
Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool
Background: Recruitment is an important parameter for success of clinical trial. Problems in clinical
trials recruitment are common and have financial and other impacts (Bower et.al, 2014). Poor
recruitment leads to prolongation or early termination of research and can reduce timely impact on
subjects’ wellbeing. There is an increasing trend of involving patients groups into early phase drug
trials. Although the number of participants required in early phase trials is smaller but due to lack of
benefit to the participants and the complex inclusion and exclusion criteria recruitment can be a
challenge in some studies.
Method: We conducted a survey to explore outpatients’ opinion about early phase drug trials and
their ideas about how best to advertise it. One hundred and sixty patients were approached in busy
tertiary hospital out-patient clinics over a period of four weeks. Data was collected on a paper
questionnaire. Patients answered the questions themselves but helped only if required. We approached
patients from the following specialities,
Table 1
Renal Dialysis
Renal transplant and
nuclear medicine
Vasculitis and General
Medicine
Results:
Renal
Liver
Cardiology
Infectious Disease and
Liver Disease
Gastro-intestinal
Osteoporosis
Table 2
Question
Are you aware of drug trials
in RLBUHT
Have you seen information
of drug trials in RLBUHT
Should drug trials be
advertised in RLBUHT
Would you consider taking
part in clinical drug trial
Have you participated in a
drug trial
Would you participate again
Infectious Disease
Pre-operative (General
Surgery)
Gastro-intestinal and
General Medicine
Figure 1
Yes (%)
22.5
No (%)
77.5
8.1
89.1
93.6
6.4
45.5
54.5
16.3
83.7
69.6
30.4
Potential target for
recruitement
Not
taken
part/no
interest
65%
Conclusion: We found that patients’ awareness about clinical trials is very limited however patients’
opinion is positive generally. Only 16% of the studied population had participated in drug trials butan
additional 19% (Figure 1)of the outpatients were willing to consider taking part in drug trials if more
trial related information is available to them.
References:
Bower,P., Brueton, V.,Gamble, C., Treweek, S., Smith, C., Young, B. and Williamson, P.
‘Interventions to improve recruitment and retention in clinical trials: a survey and workshop to assess
current practice and future priorities.’ Trials, 2014 (15) 399
Yes
16%
target for
recruite
ment