71% of Chronically Ill Patients Would Join Trials as Two-Thirds Were Never Asked
Updated
Updated · Medical Daily · Aug 20
71% of Chronically Ill Patients Would Join Trials as Two-Thirds Were Never Asked
2 articles · Updated · Medical Daily · Aug 20
Summary
More than 2,000 adults polled this year showed 71% of Americans with chronic illnesses would likely join a clinical trial, yet two-thirds said a provider had never discussed one with them.
Primary care doctors appear willing but rarely act: 86% said they would refer patients to trials, while only 37% had ever done so, reflecting the unpaid work of finding eligible, open studies.
Geography screens out many patients before choice enters the picture. A 2019 study of 8,893 cancer patients found 55.6% had no suitable trial at their treatment site and 21.5% were ineligible for one there.
Costs also deter enrollment even when routine care is insured, because patients can still face deductibles, copays, travel, lodging, childcare and lost wages; a pending bill would let sponsors cover up to $2,000 in support tax-free.
The gap hurts research as well as patients: up to 86% of trials miss recruitment targets on time, and wider use of decentralized trials could broaden access beyond major urban academic centers.