There are several barriers that can prevent or deter individuals from participating in a clinical trial. Often, people fear the potential risks and side effects that can be involved in clinical trials participation.
Many individuals lack information about clinical trials.
Patients often do not know what clinical trials are or how to find out about them. Many doctors do not offer information about clinical trials and some even discourage participation. Patients want to trust that their physician has given them all possible information. Without having a general knowledge base themselves, patients do not know what questions to ask their doctors about potential trials for their diagnosis. In contrast, many patients are only being offered trials available through their doctor or local hospital instead of learning about all available trials in a variety of health settings across the country.