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ARTICLE |

Attitudes Toward Clinical Trials Among Patients and the Public FREE

Barrie R. Cassileth, PhD; Edward J. Lusk, PhD; David S. Miller, MA; Shelley Hurwitz, MS
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to Division of Human Resources Research, University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, 7 Silverstein Pavilion, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Dr Cassileth).


JAMA. 1982;248(8):968-970. doi:10.1001/jama.1982.03330080050028
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Attitudes toward clinical research, the focus of recent and damaging media attention, were assessed through questionnaires completed anonymously by 104 patients with cancer, 84 cardiology patients, and 107 members of the general public. Responses differed neither by subgroup nor by demographic variables. Data are therefore reported on the total population of 295 subjects. Most respondents (71%) believed that patients should serve as research subjects. In support of this belief, the majority cited potential benefit to others and the opportunity to increase scientific knowledge, but a different bias emerged when they were asked about their own potential participation. This study shows that diverse respondents view clinical trials as important, ethical, and as a means of attaining superior clinical care. Major importance is attributed to making contributions to medical knowledge and to helping future patients. Contrasts are noted in patients' views of their own treatments v treatments of "hypothetical others."

(JAMA 1982;248:968-970)

REFERENCES

Barber B, Lally JJ, Makarushka JL, et al: Research on Human Subjects . New York, Russell Sage Foundation, 1973;.
Crane D: The Sanctity of Social Life: Physicians' Treatment of Critically Ill Patients . New York, Russell Sage Foundation, 1975;.
Freund PA: Experimentation With Human Subjects . New York, George Braziller, 1970;.
Byar DP, Simon RM, Friedewald WT, et al:  Randomized clinical trials: Perspectives on some recent ideas . N Engl J Med 1976;;295:74-80.
Weinstein MC:  Allocation of subjects in medical experiments . N Engl J Med 1974;; 291:1278-1285.
Zelen M:  The randomization and stratification of patients to clinical trials . J Chronic Dis 1974;;27:365-375.
Mould RF:  Clinical trial design in cancer . Clin Radiol 1979;;30:371-381.
White SJ, Freedman LS:  Allocation of patients to treatment groups in a controlled study . Br J Cancer 1978;;37:849-857.
Feinstein AR:  Biostatistical problems in 'compliance bias.' Clin Pharmacol Ther 1974;; 16:846-857.
Cassileth BR, Zupkis RV, Sutton-Smith K, et al:  Informed consent: Why are its goals imperfectly realized? N Engl J Med 1980;;302:896-900.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

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Barber B, Lally JJ, Makarushka JL, et al: Research on Human Subjects . New York, Russell Sage Foundation, 1973;.
Crane D: The Sanctity of Social Life: Physicians' Treatment of Critically Ill Patients . New York, Russell Sage Foundation, 1975;.
Freund PA: Experimentation With Human Subjects . New York, George Braziller, 1970;.
Byar DP, Simon RM, Friedewald WT, et al:  Randomized clinical trials: Perspectives on some recent ideas . N Engl J Med 1976;;295:74-80.
Weinstein MC:  Allocation of subjects in medical experiments . N Engl J Med 1974;; 291:1278-1285.
Zelen M:  The randomization and stratification of patients to clinical trials . J Chronic Dis 1974;;27:365-375.
Mould RF:  Clinical trial design in cancer . Clin Radiol 1979;;30:371-381.
White SJ, Freedman LS:  Allocation of patients to treatment groups in a controlled study . Br J Cancer 1978;;37:849-857.
Feinstein AR:  Biostatistical problems in 'compliance bias.' Clin Pharmacol Ther 1974;; 16:846-857.
Cassileth BR, Zupkis RV, Sutton-Smith K, et al:  Informed consent: Why are its goals imperfectly realized? N Engl J Med 1980;;302:896-900.
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