Successful patient recruitment in CT imaging clinical trials: what factors influence patient participation?

Jacqueline Hollada; Wanda Marfori; Alessia Tognolini; William Speier; Lindsey Ristow; Stefan G Ruehm

doi:10.1016/j.acra.2013.09.016

Successful patient recruitment in CT imaging clinical trials: what factors influence patient participation?

Acad Radiol. 2014 Jan;21(1):52-7. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2013.09.016.

Authors

Jacqueline Hollada¹, Wanda Marfori², Alessia Tognolini², William Speier³, Lindsey Ristow², Stefan G Ruehm²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10945 LeConte Avenue, Suite 3371, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Electronic address: jhollada@mednet.ucla.edu.
² Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10945 LeConte Avenue, Suite 3371, Los Angeles, CA 90024.
³ Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 10945 LeConte Avenue, Suite 3371, Los Angeles, CA 90024; Department of Bioengineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.

PMID: 24331264
DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2013.09.016

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: Analyze factors that influence participation in research studies that use coronary computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Materials and methods: A 12-point survey using a questionnaire was conducted on 80 subjects, of whom 40 agreed to participate in a cardiovascular CT imaging research study (enrolling subjects) and 40 declined participation (non-enrolling subjects). Potential factors that motivated the acceptance or refusal of enrollment were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. The following aspects were addressed: (1) additional health information, (2) free imaging, (3) altruistic benefit to society, (4) monetary compensation, (5) radiation exposure, (6) role as an experimental subject, (7) possible loss of confidentiality, (8) contrast or investigational drug use, (9) premedication use, (10) blood draw or intravenous placement, (11) time commitment, and (12) personal medical opinion. Response distributions were obtained for each question and compared between enrolling and non-enrolling groups.

Results: Enrolling subjects gave significantly higher ratings than non-enrolling subjects for the following factors: additional health information (P < .001), free imaging (P < .001), and the altruistic benefit to society (P < .001). For non-enrolling subjects, concern for possible drug use or contrast injection (P < .001), concern for possible premedication (P < .001), and personal availability or time commitment (P < .001) were all given significantly higher ratings. Concern for radiation exposure (P = .002) and personal medical opinion (P < .001) received significantly high ratings among both groups but did not differ between groups.

Conclusions: Several influential concerns and benefits were identified from potential research subjects. Knowledge of what influences patient participation in studies involving CT imaging may allow researchers to effectively address concerns and highlight the potential benefits related to participation.

Keywords: CT; benefits; clinical trial; recruitment; risks.

MeSH terms

Attitude to Health*
California
Clinical Trials as Topic / methods*
Coronary Angiography / psychology*
Data Collection
Female
Humans
Male
Motivation
Patient Participation / statistics & numerical data*
Patient Selection*
Research Design
Tomography, X-Ray Computed / statistics & numerical data*