Most cancer clinical trials don’t meet their enrollment targets and it has been previously thought that patient reluctance was behind this. Now a new study published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, led by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle challenges that by suggesting that other factors are primarily responsible.
“Patients are often fearful of participating in clinical trials, and many consider trial participation as appropriate only for those with no other choices. This is unfortunate since patients receive excellent cancer care in trials,” said Dr. Joseph Unger, a health services researcher and biostatistician who led the study.
