Vietnamese University Students' Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Participation in Clinical Research: Mixed Methods
Chi Le Phuong1, Vy Pham-Tram1, Hong Huynh Thuy Phuong2
1Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Journal of Participatory Medicine
|February 12, 2026
Summary
Student participants view clinical research favorably, motivated by social value and personal health benefits. Understanding these factors is key to improving clinical trial recruitment and retention for young, healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Medical research ethics
- Clinical trial participant engagement
- Public health initiatives
Background:
- Clinical research participant recruitment and retention are significant challenges.
- Understanding participant motivations is crucial for successful clinical trials.
- The SEED project studied student motivations in Vietnam.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess student understanding of clinical research.
- To identify factors influencing student motivation to participate in clinical research.
Main Methods:
- Mixed methods approach combining surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus groups.
- Collected data from 437 students, with 74 participating in qualitative components.
- Investigated ethical and practical aspects of clinical research participation.
Main Results:
- Over 95% of students recognized clinical research's societal and scientific contributions.
- Primary concerns included potential side effects (52%) and inconveniences (59%), with fewer concerns about environmental impact (19%) or dehumanization (8%).
- Key motivators identified were health benefits, intellectual growth, time commitment, and altruism linked to perceived social value.
Conclusions:
- Students demonstrated positive attitudes towards clinical research.
- Altruistic motivations and perceived personal health benefits significantly influence participation.
- Findings offer insights for optimizing recruitment strategies for student and young, healthy populations in clinical studies.
Keywords:
Vietnamattitudeclinical researchhealthy volunteersmedical studentsmixed methods studymotivationperceptionrecruitment effortsresearch ethicsyoung generationsMore Related Videos
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