Attitudes of Palliative Care Practitioners Towards Enrolling Patients in Clinical Trials

Abstract

Background: Recruitment of participants for clinical trials remains a key consideration for investigators. This is particularly relevant in palliative care, where practitioners are sometimes reluctant to refer patients for consideration of enrolment. Reasons for this reluctance range from concerns about excessive burden to patients, through to debate about the appropriateness of undertaking trials in the palliative care setting. Aim: The aim of this study was (1) to explore palliative care practitioners’ attitudes and views of clinical trials, (2) to compare these findings with those of a similar survey undertaken more than a decade earlier, and (3) to explore predictors associated with key concepts of interest associated with clinical trials. Design: The palliative care clinician's attitudes to clinical research survey undertaken in 2007 formed the basis of a repeat survey conducted in 2019. Setting/Participants: Australian and New Zealand palliative care practitioners were surveyed. Results: Surveys were completed by 135 palliative care practitioners. Comparing results of the current study and those findings of more than a decade earlier revealed that attitudes have either not substantially changed or indeed in some areas have become less accepting of clinical trials. This is despite the dramatic increase in the volume of research carried out within palliative care over the last decade. Conclusion: Our survey suggests that the reasons for engagement in research are complex and likely to differ according to local conditions. Careful attention to understanding of the local environment and particularly the attitudes of local practitioners is likely to be essential to be successful in this endeavour.