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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
06:38
The Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network Multi-Laboratory Model of Thromboembolic Stroke with Thrombolysis: TE-MCAo
Published on: December 19, 2025
Who will participate in acute stroke trials?
S E Kasner1, A Del Giudice, S Rosenberg
1Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, 3 West Gates Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. kasner@mail.med.upenn.edu
Neurology
|May 13, 2009
Summary
Patient willingness to join acute stroke treatment trials is influenced by perceived intervention risk and personal beliefs, not demographics. Patients are more likely to participate than proxies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Trials
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute stroke affects many, yet few patients join treatment trials.
- Identifying factors influencing trial participation is crucial for advancing acute stroke therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors associated with participation in clinical trials for acute stroke.
- To understand patient and proxy decision-making regarding acute stroke research.
Main Methods:
- Prospective survey of 200 acute stroke patients or their proxies within 72 hours of onset.
- Structured interviews assessed willingness to participate in a real or mock acute treatment trial.
- Primary outcome was agreement to participate in the proposed trial.
Main Results:
- 57% of respondents would participate in the proposed acute stroke trial.
- Participation was linked to perceived intervention risk, prior attitudes towards research, and personal beliefs (family, religion).
- Patients were more willing to participate than proxy decision-makers; demographics had little impact.
Conclusions:
- Demographics and clinical factors minimally affect acute stroke trial participation decisions.
- Negative attitudes towards research and external influences significantly deter participation.
- Patients show greater willingness to join acute stroke trials compared to proxy decision-makers.
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