Factors influencing patients' decisions regarding participation in clinical trials: Review of current literature

Obtaining timely data in clinical trials (CTs) is critical for drug registration. This depends directly on the speed at which patients are recruited. This paper provides an overview of selected scientific works and literature from different countries about patients' motivators and barriers to participating in CTs From 55 articles retrieved from PubMed, 5 were selected for the analysis. Additionally, 6 publications, including 2 by Polish authors, were reviewed. As a result, we identified 10 factors for further investigation: altruism, hope for personal benefit, access to better care, the role of a doctor, the opinions of close friends or relatives, financial compensation, side effects, the patient's role as a guinea pig, effort and time, and the use of placebo. Regardless of the therapeutic area, health status, study phase, country, geographic area, economic situation, or healthcare system, patients indicated very similar reasons when deciding to participate in a CT. Even if patients as a group had similar motives and concerns, there are individual elements or unusual factors that need to be better understood and evaluated to accelerate the recruitment process in order to avoid certain drugs or therapies being overlooked or underestimated. In this way, investigators can help patients make the best decisions and more effectively support the process of registering a new drug. Future research on factors influencing patients' decisions is still necessary: We do not know how the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced patient motivation, how new regulations on CTs are changing patients' perceptions of CTs, and what may be important depending on the study, country, therapeutic area and other factors.