Factors Associated with Willingness to Participate in Clinical Trials in Poles: A Cross-Sectional Prospective Study

Background: Difficulties in recruiting patients for clinical trials increase costs and delay the implementation of new therapies. A better understanding of participants' motivations and barriers can help with developing effective recruitment strategies. The aim of the study was to identify the factors influencing the decisions of adult Poles to participate in clinical trials. Methods: The survey was conducted among Polish adults aged 18 years and older by the independent research company Ariadna between January and February 2023. The questionnaire consisted of 22 questions, nine of which related to the determinants of participation in clinical trials. 1079 people took part in the survey. Results: The study population included 568 women (52.6%) and 511 men (47.4%). The mean age of respondents was 44.96 years (SD = 16.30). 49.9% of respondents (n = 538) declared their willingness to participate in clinical trials in the future. Among those who were reluctant (n = 158, 14.6%), the main barriers were: safety concerns (n = 59, 5.5%), lack of trust (n = 43, 4.0%), and insufficient knowledge (n = 33, 3.1%). The strongest motivation was the desire to improve health (n = 869, 80.5%), and the most frequently indicated reason for participation was cancer (n = 740, 68.6%). The least frequently indicated were diseases of the urinary and reproductive systems (n = 125; 11.6%). Conclusions: The results highlight key aspects important to patients when deciding whether to participate in clinical trials. Such findings may prove useful for researchers in getting to know their patients better and in developing effective strategies to recruit and retain participants in clinical trials.