Public attitudes toward an authorization for contact program for clinical research

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Patient Engagement
• Clinical Trial Recruitment

Background:

• Electronic health record reviews are crucial for identifying potential research participants.
• Authorization for Contact (AFC) programs facilitate researcher-patient communication for study recruitment.
• Understanding patient concerns is vital for optimizing AFC program design and effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate public attitudes towards an authorization for contact (AFC) program.
• To identify key concerns and motivations influencing participation in AFC programs.
• To assess the impact of flyer design and framing on participant willingness.

Main Methods:

• An online experimental survey with 1070 participants was conducted.
• Participants were randomized to view one of three flyers with varying designs and framing.
• Logistic regression and latent class analysis were used to analyze concerns and identify participant clusters.

Main Results:

• The primary concerns identified were needing more information (43%), privacy (40%), and time to consider (28%).
• A significant minority expressed disinterest in research participation (16%) or a desire not to be contacted (15%).
• A novel, simply and positively framed flyer significantly decreased reluctance due to not wanting to be bothered and lack of research interest (P=.01).

Conclusions:

• Many concerns regarding AFC programs are general rather than specific.
• Addressing privacy, research disinterest, and the 'do not bother' sentiment are key areas for improving AFC program recruitment.
• Optimized communication strategies, such as positive framing in informational materials, can enhance patient engagement in research.