What Researchers Did
Researchers surveyed investigators from three head and neck cancer surgery trials to identify common difficulties in recruiting patients for these studies.
What They Found
More than 50% of responders identified patient refusal due to treatment preference or aversion to randomisation, overly complex patient information, and lack of clinic time as major barriers to recruitment. Patient preference for a specific treatment arm and insufficient time in the clinic were rated as the most severe problems.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study highlights that enrolling patients in clinical trials for head and neck cancers, including those investigating treatments like hyperbaric oxygen therapy for osteoradionecrosis, faces significant challenges. These recruitment difficulties can slow down the development and understanding of new or improved treatments for Canadian patients.
Canadian Relevance
While this study was not conducted in Canada, it covers osteoradionecrosis, which is a Health Canada-recognized indication for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
The study relied on the perceived barriers reported by investigators, which may not fully capture all reasons for recruitment difficulties or patient perspectives.