Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU): Trial Satisfaction and Attitudes towards Future Clinical Trials.

Background: Clinical trial satisfaction is increasingly important for future trial designs and is associated with treatment adherence and willingness to enroll in future research studies or to recommend trial participation. In this post-trial survey, we examined participant satisfaction and attitudes toward future clinical trials in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trials Unit (DIAN-TU).
Methods: We developed an anonymous, participant satisfaction survey tailored to participants enrolled in the DIAN-TU-001 double-blind clinical trial of solanezumab or gantenerumab and requested that all study sites share the survey with their trial participants. A total of 194 participants enrolled in the trial at 24 study sites. We utilized regression analysis to explore the link between participants' clinical trial experiences, their satisfaction, and their willingness to participate in upcoming trials.
Results: Survey responses were received over a sixteen-month window during 2020-2021 from 58 participants representing 15 study sites. Notably, 96.5% of the survey respondents expressed high levels of satisfaction with the trial, 91.4% would recommend trial participation, and 96.5% were willing to enroll again. Age, gender, and education did not influence satisfaction levels. Participants reported enhanced medical care (70.7%) and pride in contributing to the DIAN-TU trial (84.5%). Satisfaction with personnel and procedures was high (98.3%). Respondents had a mean age of 48.7 years, with most being from North America and Western Europe, matching the trial's demographic distribution. Participants' decisions to learn their genetic status increased during the trial, and most participants endorsed considering future trial participation regardless of the DIAN-TU-001 trial outcome.
Conclusion: Results suggest that DIAN-TU-001 participants who responded to the survey exhibited high motivation to participate in research, overall satisfaction with the clinical trial, and willingness to participate in research in the future, despite a long trial duration of 4-7 years with detailed annual clinical, cognitive, PET, MRI, and lumbar puncture assessments. Implementation of features that alleviate barriers and challenges to trial participation is like to have a high impact on trial satisfaction and reduce participant burden.
Competing Interests: EMM receives Grant Funding from NIA; Institutional funding from Eli Lilly, Hoffmann-La Roche, Eisai. He is a DSMB member (paid directly) for Alector; Eli Lilly; a Scientific Advisory Board Member (paid directly to me) for Alzamend, Fondation Alzheimer. He acts as a Consultant/Advisor for Sage Therapeutics, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, AstraZeneca,Hoffmann La-Roche. DBC is Medical Director for DIAN-TU and supported by DIAN-TU grants in this role. He receives research support from National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institute of Aging, National Institute of AIDS and Infectious Disease He has served on DSMB or adjudication committees for Sanofi/Genzyme, Wave Life Sciences, Seagen, Atara Biotherapeutics, Teva, CellEvolve, Excision Biotherapeutics and Arena. He receives support for contributing to Up-To-Date. BJS is the site principal investigator for DIAN-TU at Washington University and receives research support from NIH, Eli Lilly, Biogen, Hoffman LaRoche, Eisai and Janssen. She has served on advisory boards for Eisai and Biogen. CJM has received grants from Biogen; honoraria or advisory board fees from Biogen, Eli Lilly, Roche, IONIS, Eisai, Alector; participated in company sponsored symposia for Biogen and Eisai. RJB is the Director of the DIAN-TU and Principal Investigator of the DIAN-TU-001. He receives research support from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, DIAN-TU Trial Pharmaceutical Partners (Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Ltd., and Avid Radiopharmaceuticals), Alzheimer’s Association, GHR Foundation, Anonymous Organization, DIAN-TU Pharma Consortium (Active: AbbVie, Biogen, BMS, Eisai, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd./Genentech,. Previous: Amgen, AstraZeneca, Forum, Mithridion, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi, United Neuroscience). CHvD receives research support from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, Biogen, Eisai, Eli Lilly and Company, Janssen, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Ltd./Genentech, UCB, and Cerevel. He serves as a consultant for F. Hoffman La Roche, Ltd., Eisai, Ono, and Cerevel. SG is member of scientific advisory boards of Alzheon, AmyriAD, Eisai, Enigma USA, Lilly, Medesis, NovoNordisk, Okutsa. Editorial board member JPAD, Neurotorium. DG is paid consultant for Esai and Roche Diagnostics. GYRH discloses that he has received grants or contracts from CIHR, NIA/NIH, has been a clinical trials investigator supported by Anavex, Biogen, Cassava, and Lilly, and has participated in expert advisory committee supported by Biogen, Eisai, Roche, and NovoNordisk. Dr. Hsiung is the current president of C5R (Consortium of Canadian Centres for Clinical Cognitive Research). JP is member of an IDMC for Biogen. EDR serves on a data monitoring committee for Eli Lilly, has received licensing fees from Genentech, and has served as a consultant for AGTC. All other authors have nothing to disclose.