Motivations for participating in clinical trials and health-related product testing.

The purpose of this research involves understanding individual motivations for volunteering in clinical trials and/or health-related product tests. Identifying the reasons leading to participation in clinical studies also ensures researchers are in a position to outline projects that benefit patients as well as predicting eventual barriers that might otherwise constrain their involvement. In this context, the paper seeks to reinforce the importance of marketing strategies for recruiting and retaining volunteers as well as gasping the most effective kind of approach (promotional, communicational, economic incentives, among others). This study is based on exploratory research, deploying a deductive method, bailing up statistical methods in order to identify the motivations influencing volunteers over healthcare related product test participation. The results reveal that participants attach high importance to health professional recommendations within the scope of their motivations for participating in clinical trials. The motivations related to logistical factors (such as time and location) prove relevant to helping in the process of clinical trial participation decision making as well as deciding on the preferred alternative incentives (discount coupons, vouchers, etc.). Participants consider that information provided in hospitals, clinics, and health centers encourages interest in clinical trial participation taking into account that these are studies in the health area and the information provided by these institutions, therefore, probably receives correspondingly greater credibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]