RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Clinical trials are important to improve public health care. However, recruiting participants for trials can be difficult. AIMS: This study assessed public knowledge of and willingness to participate in clinical trials in Jordan and examine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with knowledge and willingness and the reasons behind unwillingness to participate. METHODS: The questions were part of a representative, population-based survey in 2011 that included 3196 Jordanian individuals. In a home-based interview, participants were asked about: sociodemographic characteristics, and knowledge of and participation in clinical trials. RESULTS: Only 21.8% of respondents knew what a clinical trial was and (1.2%) had participated in a trial. About 25% of respondents indicated their willingness to enrol in a trial. Significantly more men (24.1%) than women (19.3%) knew what clinical trials were (P < 0.001), whereas more women (4.3%) than men (2.9%) said they would be very likely to agree to participate in trials. People aged 40-49 years had better knowledge of and greater willingness to participate in trials than other age groups. Income was positively associated with knowledge of trials but negatively associated with willingness to participate. Higher education was positively correlated with knowledge of and willingness to take part in trials. The main reasons for not participating in trials were concern about the risk to own health (61.1%) and not being convinced about the outcome and benefits of clinical trials (29.7%). CONCLUSION: The low level of knowledge of and willingness to participate in clinical trials indicates that strategies are needed to educate the public about the nature and importance of clinical trials.