Perceived Barriers to Pediatric Clinical Trials Implementation: A Survey of Health Care Staff

Abstract

Introduction. Clinical trials are the gold standard for assessing the effectiveness and safety of treatments. The objective of the current study was to assess provider opinions regarding implementing pediatric clinical trials in various practice settings across Kansas.  

Methods. The study was completed within the Sunflower Pediatric Clinical Trials Research Extension (SPeCTRE), an affiliate of the IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN). A cross-sectional, 36-item survey was administered to a state-wide convenience sample targeting health care providers and clinic staff.  

Results. A total of 119 health care providers and clinic staff completed surveys; 31% were physicians. Physicians were more likely than other clinic staff to have experience with clinical trials (correlation coefficient [CC]=0.270, p=0.004). When compared to urban respondents, rural providers were less supportive of recruitment for clinical trials in their practices (CC=-0.251, p=0.008) and more likely to feel comfortable referring patients for clinical trials involving treatments that their insurance did not cover (CC=0.302, p=0.001). 

Conclusions. A range of rural and urban health care professionals support the performance of pediatric clinical trials but identify several barriers as well. These results will support future pediatric clinical trials across the country including Kansas.