Information seeking and processing about clinical trial enrollment

Low patient accrual in clinical trials poses serious concerns for the advancement of medical science. Past research has identified health communication as a crucial step in overcoming barriers to enrollment. This study combines social psychology theories on individuals' motivation for information seeking and processing, as well as risk communication theories on their risk perception and health decision making. Specifically, we apply the model of Risk Information Seeking and Processing to examine factors that influence peoples' communication behaviors. Our research questions center around what motivates people to seek out information about clinical trial enrollment and how motivations may differ between a general population and cancer patients or their caregivers. In October and November 2007, data were collected using a random digital dial telephone survey of the general population (age 18 and above) (n=500), in conjunction with another 500 telephone interviews with patients and caregivers that utilize services of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Preliminary results suggest that important differences exist in the responses from these two samples, such as the extent to which respondents felt the need to stay on top of information in order to fulfill the expectations of people close to them. For instance, the results suggest that LLS respondents who felt more obliged to stay informed about clinical trial enrollment were also more likely to seek and carefully process information about clinical trials. Detailed results will be revealed at our presentation.