Survey on Patient and Physician Attitudes about Parkinson Clinical Trials

Abstract

In March 2005, Harris Interactive® completed a study examining physicians’ and patients’ attitudes towards Parkinson’s disease clinical trials. The study was commissioned on behalf of PDtrials* by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Five hundred physicians (250 primary care physicians/gerontologists and 250 neurologists) and 518 people with Parkinson’s participated in the study. Nearly 80% of patients surveyed stated that they would be somewhat, very, or extremely likely to participate in a clinical trial if one were available in their area. However, seven in ten are not at all or not very aware of clinical trials and only 11% reported that their doctor ever suggested that they participate in a trial.

The survey also found that, among physicians who treat people with Parkinson’s, 96% agree that clinical trials are necessary to find better treatments for the disease. However, the majority have discussed clinical trials with just 10% or less of their patients and never referred a patient to a clinical trial.

Only 14% of primary care physicians, 21% of neurologists, and 18% of patients surveyed indicated that they are somewhat or very satisfied with the amount of information available about clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease.

The Harris Interactive study confirms the assumption that there is a clinical trials information gap and the critical role of PDtrials, a national initiative dedicated to increasing education and awareness about clinical research by providing information to help people with Parkinson’s learn and make informed decisions about participating in clinical trials.

*PDtrials is led by the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation in collaboration with the American Parkinson Disease Association, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the National Parkinson Foundation, the Parkinson’s Action Network, The Parkinson Alliance and WE MOVE. The campaign is advised by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH), the Parkinson Study Group, the Parkinson Pipeline Project and the Parkinson’s Institute.