title: Key issues for elderly patients contemplating clinical trial participation.
abstract: This pilot study explored issues important to enrollment in clinical trials by elderly patients. We surveyed and interviewed elderly patients who had been asked to participate in trials. The information covered general attitudes toward research and specific aspects of trial recruitment. Elderly patients had favorable attitudes toward research. This favorable attitude was significantly stronger in men than in women and stronger in Whites than non-Whites but not significantly so. Altruistic motives, physician recommendations, and individual assessment of inconveniences, benefits, and risks of trial participation drove decisions. Elderly patients have positive views of research; however, this will only facilitate trial participation if patients perceive the commitment of enrolling, the potential risks, and possible side effects as reasonable.
authors.affiliation: a College of Arts and Sciences , Boston College , Chestnut Hill , Massachusetts , USA.
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carandang
authors.affiliation: b The Value Institute , Christiana Care Health System , Newark , Delaware , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Goldsack
authors.affiliation: b The Value Institute , Christiana Care Health System , Newark , Delaware , USA.
authors.forename: Seema S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sonnad
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People
keywords: Aged; health care disparities; patient participation