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What are the incentives that motivate members of the public to agree to participate in randomised trials?
Incentives, in the context of this uncertainty, go beyond cash reimbursements for time lost or costs incurred by participating in a trial. Incentives might be wide and varied, including, for example, money/cash, vouchers and gifts.
- “I’m wary of cash incentives when a trial is based on a health intervention. There’s an element of pressurising people who might be very vulnerable”.
- “I suspect the best motivation is not from cash incentives or similar, but rather from a sense of belonging, duty etc; work in these areas seems most useful.”
- “People may be altruistic and feel they want to give back but they should not feel that they have to. Cash incentives are appropriate when people have to attend long visits or have to use equipment at home etc.”
