Attitudes Toward Clinical Trials Among Physicians in China With Different Levels of Experience

Physicians play an important role in clinical trials, but attitudes toward clinical trials among physicians with different levels of experience have seldom been studied. The objective of this study was to assess the different attitudes toward clinical trials among junior, intermediate, and senior physicians.

An anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted between April 1 and May 1, 2015. A total of 217 physicians (66 junior, 86 intermediate, and 65 senior positions) completed and submitted the validated questionnaires.

The surveyed physicians responded with a high degree of agreement on the necessity of conducting clinical trials. Senior and intermediate physicians considered most about helping patients with new treatments in conducting a clinical trial. For junior physicians, the opportunity to have access to clinical trial methodology and enhancing their reputation in society or in the hospital were the 2 most significant factors. In addition, physicians with lower titles perceived greater difficulties in conducting clinical trials, especially in communicating with the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) office and the trial sponsor, enrolling trial participants, and obtaining informed consent.

Our results revealed that physicians with different positional titles perceived different benefits and difficulties in conducting clinical trials. Junior physicians need more administrative assistance in clinical trials and related training.