Barriers to Enrollment to Clinical Trials

(Barre et al., 2022, Abu-Farha et al., 2020, https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sites/orwh/files/docs/orwh_outreach_toolkit_litreview.pdf, Review of the Literature: Primary Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in Clinical Research (nih.gov), Rodriguez-Torres et al., 2021,

• • Lack of awareness or understanding about clinical trials – some people may not know that clinical trials are an option or may not understand what they involve.
  • Fear of the unknown – some people may be hesitant to participate in a clinical trial because they are unsure what to expect or are concerned about the potential risks.
  • Lack of trust – some people may not trust the medical system or pharmaceutical companies and may be hesitant to participate in a clinical trial.
  • Transportation and geographic barriers – some people may not be able to participate in a clinical trial because the trial is too far away or they lack the means of transportation to get to a trial site.
  • Financial barriers – some people may not be able to participate in a clinical trial because they do not speak the language used in the trial or they have difficulty understanding the informed consent document.
  • Eligibility criteria – some people may not be eligible to participate in a clinical trial because they do not meet the inclusion criteria, such as having a specific medical condition.
  • Timing – some people may not be able to participate in a clinical trial because they are not available when it is taking place.
  • Personal circumstances – some people may not be able to participate in a clinical trial due to personal circumstances such as childcare or elder care responsibilities.