Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire, Wednesday, 18 December 1996.
The study was conducted by CenterWatch, a leading Internet provider of information about clinical trials for medical professionals and patients interested in enrolling in studies. Currently all clinical trial information listed on the CenterWatch Internet site is reviewed and approved by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). The 521 survey participants included consumers and patients seeking on-line information about clinical trials from the CenterWatch site. The on-line survey was initiated following FDA's recent hearing examining its role and responsibilities governing medical information on the Internet.
"Understanding how patients feel about FDA's role is critical," said Ken Getz, CenterWatch principal and co-founder. "Patients using the Internet will be the ones most directly impacted by any additional FDA oversight. For this reason we surveyed this patient population."
The survey data was gathered from on-line consumers and patients in September and October 1996. 97% of patients said that there is no need for additional FDA review of information already approved by an IRB for posting on the Internet. Patients surveyed overwhelmingly agreed that having access to clinical trials information was very important to them, citing the Internet as the most valuable source for this information. Other important sources of information about clinical trials included physician referrals (49%), support groups (37%), and newspaper, radio and TV (35%).
The Internet has given patients access to clinical trials information that until now was disseminated on an ad hoc basis primarily to health care professionals. "We know how important the Internet has become for patients with AIDS, breast cancer and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). This study reinforces how important the Internet is to patients with a variety of chronic and life-threatening diseases," said Ken Getz.
The CenterWatch clinical trials listing service on the Internet provides information about 1,000 active clinical trials throughout the U.S. CenterWatch is committed to serving as an information source and enhancing the efficiency and quality of the research process through its publications, services and market surveys.
CONTACT: Ken Getz or Bob Whitaker of CenterWatch, 617-247-2327, http://www.centerwatch.com, or Liz Moench or Nancy Sullivan of MediciGroup(TM), 610-995-2025, for CenterWatch/ 07:30 EST
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