Scientific letters
Patient retention gifts in clinical trials - undue inducement or justified motivational tools?
Abstract
The use of retention gifts in clinical trials has been controversial, with some ethicists maintaining that such gifts represent undue inducement to the trial participants. A study was conducted at TREAD Research, a site-managed organisation based at Tygerberg Hospital, in which 302 participants completed a questionnaire that focused on their opinion with regard to such gifts. The results suggest that these gifts do not influence patients to participate in a clinical trial or influence them to remain on a trial should they wish to withdraw. However, they do act as a useful motivational tool and trial participants appreciate them.
Authors' affiliations
L J Burgess,
N Sulzer,
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Patient retention; Patient retention gifts
Cite this article
South African Medical Journal 2011;101(9):640-641.
Article History
Date submitted: 2011-05-03
Date published: 2011-09-05
Date published: 2011-09-05
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