Patient attitudes toward granting consent to participate in perioperative randomized clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the factors that affect patients' decisions to provide informed consent to participate in perioperative clinical trials.


METHODS
Survey instrument (questionnaire).


METHODS
Urban, tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospital.


RESULTS
Of 52 patients who had been asked to participate in a randomized control trial (RCT), 43 agreed to be participate in our survey. Almost all consenters (97%), but only 62% of nonconsenters agreed to answer the survey questions (p = 0.002). No significant difference in gender, ethnic background, marital status, or education level was found between groups who were or were not willing to participate. Univariate correlates of agreement to participate in RCTs included older age (>60 yrs;p = 0.02), a reassuring attitude conveyed by study personnel (p = 0.02), and trust in study personnel (p = 0.02). Those who declined participation in clinical trials more frequently indicated that the study made them feel like a "guinea pig" (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Patient age and personal attitudes predict the likelihood of participation in perioperative clinical trials. Neither gender nor race affected willingness to participate. Further work in larger groups is needed to identify predictors of consent and techniques to increase willing participation.
Patel
Angira
A
Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Wilke
Hans J
HJ
Mingay
David
D
Ellis
John E
JE
D000328:Adult; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D035842:Research Subjects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires