title: Knowledge and Perceptions about Clinical Trials and the Use of Biomedical Samples: Findings from a Qualitative Study in Rural Northern Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical trials conducted in sub-Saharan Africa have helped to address the prevalent health challenges. The knowledge about how communities perceive clinical trials is however only now evolving. This study was conducted among parents whose children participated in past clinical trials in northern Ghana to assess their knowledge and perceptions of clinical trials and the use of biomedical samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative study based on eighty in-depth interviews with parents. The participants were randomly selected from among parents whose children were enrolled in a clinical trial conducted in the Kassena-Nankana districts between 2000 and 2003. The interviews were transcribed and coded into emergent themes using Nvivo 9 software. The thematic analysis framework was used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study participants reported that clinical trials were carried out to determine the efficacy of drugs and to make sure that these drugs were suitable for human beings to use. The conduct of clinical trials was perceived to have helped to reduce the occurrence of diseases such as malaria, cerebrospinal meningitis and diarrhea. Quality of care was reported to be better in clinical trials than in the routine care. Parents indicated that participation in clinical trials positively influenced their health-seeking behavior. Apprehensions about blood draw and the use to which samples were put were expressed, with suspicion by a few participants that researchers sold blood samples. The issue of blood draw was most contentious.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents perception about the conduct of clinical trials in the study districts is generally positive. However, misconceptions made about the use of blood samples in this study must be taken seriously and strategies found to improve transparency and greater community acceptability.
authors.affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre, P.O Box 114, Navrongo, Ghana.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatio
authors.affiliation: Ensign College of Public Health, Kpong, ER, Ghana.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baiden
authors.affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre, P.O Box 114, Navrongo, Ghana.
authors.forename: Fabian Sebastian
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Achana
authors.affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre, P.O Box 114, Navrongo, Ghana.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oduro
authors.affiliation: Navrongo Health Research Centre, P.O Box 114, Navrongo, Ghana.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akazili
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D019035:Rural Health Services