Terms used to describe trials may have different meanings for patients

Little is known about patients' perspectives of participation in randomised controlled trials. On p 1177 Featherstone and Donovan explore the understandings of randomisation among middle aged and elderly men participating in a trial of treatments for benign prostatic disease. Most men were able to recall and describe basic aspects of randomisation such as the involvement of chance, but they also developed alternative accounts to help them make sense of their experiences. The use of terms with different meanings for patients and trialists (such as "trial") caused confusion, as did inaccuracies in patient information. Providing clear and accurate patient information is crucial, and patients need to be able to discuss their concerns about concepts such as randomisation if they are to give truly informed consent to participate in randomised controlled trials.


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Random allocation or allocation at random? Patients' perspectives of participation in a randomised controlled trial

Katie Featherstone and Jenny L Donovan
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