What Factors Influence a Site to Say "Yes" to a Trial

The design and completeness of the protocol and early and open communication with research center personnel are factors that most influence investigative site willingness to participate in a clinical study.

The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (Tufts CSDD) conducted a survey in February and March 2010 among investigative sites around the world. More than 3500 sites completed the survey. Of the 13 factors rated, four of the most influential are related to protocol design: Availability of qualified, eligible study volunteers (the top rated by 63%); completeness of information about the study (55%); scientific attractiveness of the protocol (49%); and complexity of the protocol (29%).

Top Reasons Investigative Sites Participate in Studies

Two of the factors that most influence investigative site willingness to participate are communication related: completeness of study information (55%), and having early input into the protocol design (20%). Factors that had the least influence on site willingness to participate in a clinical study include the number of sites participating in the study (5% rate has "a great deal of influence"); type of electronic data capture system used (9%), and familiarity and experience with the contract research organization managing the study (16%).—Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, http://csdd.tufts.edu/.