The coronavirus outbreak has brought renewed attention to the clinical trial process, which is used to establish the safety and effectiveness of new treatments, such as COVID-19 vaccines.
Overall, about two-thirds of U.S. Adults (65%) see clinical trials as very important, despite the time such trials add to the process of developing new treatments, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. Around three-in-ten (29%) see the clinical trial process as somewhat important, while 5% say it is not too or not at all important.
There is support for the role of clinical trials across demographic, educational and partisan groups. Majorities of Black (59%) and Hispanic adults (58%) say clinical trials are very important, as do slightly larger shares of White (67%) and English-speaking Asian adults (66%).
Focus group discussions conducted by the Pew Research Center in July 2021 highlight the range of considerations that are top of mind for Black and Hispanic Americans when it comes to whether they personally would be willing to take part in a clinical trial.
Several participants talked about the desire to help others by participating in clinical trials, and some mentioned the potential benefits to help them with a medical condition of their own. Others talked about the possible benefit from financial compensation, especially at a time in life when finances were stretched.
Here are some examples of these perspectives shared by Black and Hispanic adults who took part in the Center’s focus groups:
“I’d do it because I think they help people, in the long run. It can help somebody, so I have no qualms with it.” –Black woman, age 40-65
-“My husband was asked [to participate in a clinical trial] because he had a transplant, and I supported it. Sometimes they call him to ask questions and do research and I have always supported him because it is something to help others and for me that is important.” –Hispanic woman, age 40-65
-“I would [participate in a clinical trial], because I do suffer from migraines, so if there would be something for me to help other people who have migraines. I probably would.” –Hispanic woman, age 25-39
-“[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] COPD has no cure, so if I could find something that could help manage my disease better … if they can find something that controls it better, where I don’t have to keep changing medication [every four months], so I don’t have to keep taking four or five pills for hypertension, I’m all for it.” –Black man, age 40-65
-“I don’t want to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. I honestly don’t. I don’t want to pay for that medication… If I can do away with that, yeah, I would join the study.” –Hispanic woman, age 40-65.
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