Consumer input needed
November 20, 2012
OVER half of all Australians would
be open to participating in clinical
trials if they had a relevant
condition, according to Research
Australia.
The comments come on the back
of research into consumer health
involvement in the Australian
health landscape, which looked at a
randomly selected national sample
of 1,052 Australians aged 18 and
over.
The research found that whilst
59% of Australians would be open
to participating in clinical trials if
they had a relevant medical
condition (a figure that has
remained constant over eight
years), the number of those who
are unsure but who would
participate in trials if they had more
information has grown (jumping
from 21% to 37% over the past
eight years).
Interestingly, the research also
found that the number who would
definitely not participate in a
clinical trial has fallen from 20% to
only 4%.
“We need to empower the people
by telling them more about what
the medical research is for, and to
foster greater value and
understanding within the
community of health and medical
research," said Elizabeth Foley,
Chief Executive Officer of Research
Australia.
“The community wants more
information and engagement,
which has come through in the
public submissions made by
consumer health organisations to
the McKeon Review, and avenues
for meaningful engagement and
partnership have also been an
important part of Research
Australia's response to the McKeon
Review consultation paper.
“The sector needs to partner with
'patients' more, and ensure that we
are integrating health and medical
research into the health care
system,” she added.
Around 600 new clinical trials
commence in Australia each year, in
which, according to Foley, less than
1% of all Australians are involved.
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