Health
Patients unaware of opportunities to participate in clinical trials
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 2, 2008
An overwhelming number of adults -- about 94% of 2,000 questioned -- told surveyors their physician has never talked to them about participating in any type of medical research, according to a phone survey sponsored by the Society for Women's Health Research, a nonprofit group based in Washington, D.C.
The women surveyed also were significantly more likely than were the men to say they are too old or not healthy enough to participate in research. Men surveyed also were more aware that there were research opportunities for healthy volunteers than were the women.
The findings reflect the difficulty in gathering information on older women in particular, said Sherry Marts, PhD, vice president of scientific affairs for the society. "Women 65 and older are among the fastest growing segments of our population, and we have very little research data on them. This lack of information is an area of great need and growing concern."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/06/02/hlbf0602.htm.
