title: Clinical trials involving cats: what factors affect owner participation?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical trials are frequently hindered by difficulties in recruiting eligible participants, increasing the timeline and limiting generalizability of results. In veterinary medicine, where proxy enrollment is required, no studies have detailed what factors influence owner participation in clinical trials involving cats. We aimed to investigate these factors through a survey of owners at first opinion practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was designed using feedback from a pilot study and input from clinical researchers. Owners were asked demographic questions and whether they would, would not, or were unsure about participating in a clinical trial with their cat. They then ranked the importance and influence of various factors on participation using a five-point Likert-type scale, and incentives from most to least encouraging. A total of 413 surveys were distributed to cat owners at four hospitals, two feline-only and two multi-species; 88.6% were completed. Data for importance and influence factors as well as incentive rankings were analyzed overall, and by hospital type, location and whether owners would consider participating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most influential factors were trust in the organization, benefit to the cat and veterinarian recommendation. Importance and influence factors varied by willingness to participate. Ranked incentives were not significantly different across groups, with 'Free Services' ranked highest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a first look at what factors influence participation in clinical trials with cats. Given the importance placed in the recommendation of veterinarians, continued work is needed to determine veterinarian-related factors affecting clinical trial participation. The results provide guidance towards improved clinical trial design, promotion and education.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pain Research Laboratory, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA Behavioral Medicine Service, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA megruen@ncsu.edu.
authors.forename: Margaret E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gruen
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pain Research Laboratory, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Katrina N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Jiamachello
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pain Research Laboratory, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: Comparative Pain Research Laboratory, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: B Duncan X
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Lascelles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000662:veterinary*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012107:Research Design; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000523:psychology