Why do - or don't - patients with urinary tract infection participate in a clinical trial? A qualitative study in German family medicine

Abstract

Insufficient patient recruitment can impair the conduct of clinical trials substantially, not least because a significant number of eligible patients decline trial participation. Though barriers and motivational factors have been worked out for patients with cancer or chronic diseases, little is known about primary care patients' perceptions towards trial participation when visiting their family practitioner (FP) with acute uncomplicated conditions. This study aims to assess primary care patients' motivation and barriers to participate in trials, and to identify factors that optimize patient recruitment in future trials.