ArticleBritish journal of clinical pharmacology2026
Why do healthy volunteers participate in clinical trials?
Article in British journal of clinical pharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- How to Optimize Healthy Volunteer Screening and Enrolment in Clinical Trials: A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach to Evaluate Processes and Healthy Volunteers' Perceptions.Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 2026Article
- Letter to the Editor of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Re: van Iersel et al. (2026)-Why do healthy volunteers participate in clinical trials? doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/bcp.70499.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2026Article
- Why do healthy volunteers participate in clinical trials?British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimTo better understand the motivations and needs of healthy volunteers in clinical trials.
methodsThe European Federation for Exploratory Medicines Development (EUFEMED) devised a Survey of 58 questions on motivations of volunteers to participate, as well as on needs at the level of convenience, risk/benefit, social interaction, partnership and altruism. The Survey was shared with European Clinical Research Units (CRUs) who agreed to conduct the Survey in volunteers taking part in their phase 1 trials.
resultsThe Survey generated responses from 4349 healthy volunteers. In 54% (95% CI: 52,55) of cases contributing to new treatments was the primary motivation to participate, vs. monetary compensation in 41% (95% CI: 39,42) of responders. Volunteer requirements during overnight stays defined as important were well-functioning showers (89%, 95% CI: 87,90), ability to spend some time outside (78%, 95% CI: 76,80), the meal quality (76%, 95% CI 73,78), access to high-speed internet (73%, 95% CI: 71,75), a place to read/work alone (69%, 95% CI: 66,71) and a good night rest (69%, 95% CI: 67,71). The opportunity to socialize with staff was important for 85% (95% CI: 83,87), a unit with a cozy interior for 70% (95% CI 67,72) and socializing with other participants for 63% (95% CI 61,66) of responders.
conclusionHealthy volunteers in clinical trials have specific needs during their stay in the Clinical Research Unit. Volunteer recruitment, compliance and retainment, as well as an ethical and a subject-centric approach to trial design and conduct can benefit from understanding these needs.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.