Clinical Research

Patient Satisfaction Findings

People considering entry in a Clinical Trial often wonder how they will be treated and whether their level of care will be secondary to the purpose of the trial. Nationally, independent research has shown that the level of patient satisfaction with care received in clinical trials is actually higher than the level of patient satisfaction for ordinary medical care. Perhaps this is due in part to the precise and careful way that clinical trials must be conducted, and the meticulous attention required to administer treatments exactly as designed by the research protocol.

A 2000 Harris Interactive survey of patients who participated in cancer clinical trials showed that nearly all patients surveyed felt that the quality of their care during the clinical trial was good or excellent, and that they were treated with dignity (see graph below). Furthermore, 93% believed their experience as a participant had been a positive one.

Another survey of clinical trial volunteers conducted by CenterWatch, also in 2000, gave very similar findings. Ninety-seven percent of participants said they would consider volunteering for another clinical trial in the future. Ninety percent felt that they received excellent care.

Statistics like these support what the Guthrie Clinical Research team already knows: that the vast majority of participants in clinical trials express a significantly high level of patient satisfaction with their care. Perhaps this is because at Guthrie, the central focus of medicine has always been our patients.

To find out more about clinical trials at Guthrie, call 1-800-836-0388, or click here.