Factors That Motivate Healthy Adults to Participate in Phase I Drug Trials *

Abstract

To determine the primary motivational factors for Phase I trial participation, this study tested the following hypotheses: the primary motivation for young and elderly volunteers to participate in their first Phase I trial is money; the primary reason young subjects participate in subsequent trials is money; the primary reason elderly volunteers participate in subsequent trials is social interaction; the primary reason healthy people do not participate in a second Phase I trial is schedule conflict. Twenty-eight young subjects (mean age 28 years) and 28 elderly subjects (mean age 72 years) were surveyed via a 15-item mailed questionnaire. Study results indicate that money is the primary reason young and elderly volunteers participate in their first drug study and the primary reason young volunteers participate in subsequent studies. Altruism is a primary motivator for elderly participation in more than one study and schedule conflicts are the main reason people do not participate in subsequent trials