Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2025

Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
Recruitment Techniques Used for Clinical Trials and the Potential Impact of Nudges: Qualitative Interview Study with
Molly Volkmar1, Jewels Watts2, Lauren Kaiser-Jackson1
1Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Abstract:
While clinical trials are essential to improving public health, little research has examined the range of recruitment techniques used or whether they involve behavioral nudges. Behavioral nudges have been defined as "any aspect of the choice architecture [the manner in which options are presented] that alters people's behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives"; these may influence individuals' autonomy in deciding to participate. To investigate, the study team conducted 39 semi-structured interviews with clinical trial recruiters at two academic medical centers, asking about their recruitment techniques and any perceived ethical concerns. Through inductive qualitative analysis, five main themes emerged: impact of relationships (among recruiters, healthcare teams, and participants), financial compensation, community benefit, study risks and benefits, and personalized study information. The study then assessed whether these techniques were seen as nudges and explored their ethical implications for informed decision-making.
More Related Videos
06:28E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
00:04A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Blinding
Ethics in Research
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Blind Procedures
The Placebo Effect