This work was highlighted at the seminar “Clinical Trials in Latin America and the Caribbean: How to increase their economic and social impact”, organized by ECLAC together with the Chamber of Pharmaceutical Innovation.
Clinical trials are essential to validate the safety and efficacy of new medical treatments, driving innovation and the advancement of medicine, as well as providing the scientific basis for developing clinical guidelines and treatment protocols. For, the participation of the population in this type of research is fundamental.
According to the Opinion Study on Clinical Trials in Chile, prepared by IMPACT Center, led by the Universidad de los Andes, 89% of Chileans find clinical trials very important for discovering and developing new medical treatments, while only 1% believe that these procedures are of little or no importance.
In terms of age bracket, as the age of the respondents increases, the percentage of people who think that they are very important increases (27% between 18 and 34 years old; 36% between 35 and 54 years old and 44% between 55 years old and over). In the stratification of responses by GSE, 69% of the ABC1 group believe that it is very important to carry out these studies and 41% of the E group affirms that they are very important.
“Clinical trials provide us with the most valuable information on the efficacy and risks of a given treatment. For that reason they are a major component of the development of medical knowledge. Contrary to what people may think, not all trials are interventional, which is when people receive a new drug or therapy. There are studies that are observational, where it is enough, for example, to give a blood sample. This is already a great help for the advancement of science,” explains Fernando Figueroa, physician and Coordinator of the IMPACT Clinical Pillar at UANDES.
The study analyzed a sample of 1,216 people from Arica to Punta Arenas, men and women over 18 years of age, from the five socioeconomic groups. To the question “Would you consider participating in a clinical trial?”, 59% of the respondents answered that they might participate, but with more information; 28% would participate and 14% would not participate under any circumstances. In terms of GSE, 21% of group E versus 9% of group ABC1 would not participate under any circumstances.
When asked: What factor would most influence their decision to participate or not in a clinical trial? 42% of Chileans choose the potential risks and benefits for their health, 22% opt for the clarity of the information to make an informed decision and 16% for the purpose of the clinical research.
“There are currently many sources of information. Unfortunately, not all of them are accurate or deliver reliable data. We have seen this recently with the questioning of vaccines. As IMPACT UANDES we are focused on bringing scientific advances closer to clinical practice, ensuring that these benefits reach patients as soon as possible. However, this progress requires the participation of individuals, and we know that they need accurate information to make decisions about their health and, above all, to participate in this type of study. There are numerous advantages for the individual patient, beyond the social benefit. For example, it is usual for participants to access the best level of care available for their disease. And on the other hand, the medical team in charge of a study becomes increasingly expert in the condition in question, significantly improving its management,” adds Figueroa.