Online Studies Offer New Ways To Take Part In Research

[Guest guest]

Online Studies Offer New Ways To Take Part In Research

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/115425.php

The vast majority of Americans recognize the value of medical

research and the importance of human subjects participating in

studies. But when it comes to volunteering for research, there's a

lot of hesitation.

Less than 10 percent of Americans have participated in a medical

research study of any type, according to a May 2008 survey of more

than 2,000 U.S. adults by the Society for Women's Health Research.

Why they would be hesitant to participate? Many say they don't have

the time. That's not surprising when you consider that Americans

increasingly say the length and quality of their leisure time is on

the decline.

Participating in research involves personal sacrifice, including time

time spent traveling to and from a research facility or doctor's

office and time spent participating in the study.

Thanks to the Internet, there are now opportunities to participate in

research online. Some studies that focus on patient reported behavior

or experiences take place entirely online. That's good news for

patients who want to volunteer for research, but feel they can't

because of work, family and other time consuming commitments.

For example, patients are now being recruited for an online study

that is measuring cognitive limitations of women breast cancer

survivors who return to work. The study is being led by Lt. Lisseth

Calvio, M.S., of the U.S. Navy, who is a doctoral student in clinical

psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health

Sciences in Bethesda, Md.

The study is looking for female breast cancer survivors, one to 10

years after primary treatment, such as surgery, radiation or

chemotherapy, and women who have never had cancer. The women should

be working full time and be between the ages of 18 and 65.

" The study is trying to verify the best way to measure cognitive

limitations, " Calvio said. " A lot of breast cancer patients are

expressing changes in their cognitive function. First, how do we

measure that? Once that is determined, we can develop strategies to

treat or help cancer survivors. "

Over 80 percent of breast cancer patients return to the workforce

within a year of their primary treatment. There is growing evidence

that some breast cancer survivors show impaired cognitive performance

after treatment, which could impact their ability to resume a normal

and full functioning life, including work.

Participants in the study will take a short online questionnaire and

a test of memory, attention and organization that takes 60 to 75

minutes to complete. The study can be taken by anyone with a computer

and an Internet connection greater than dial-up.

There are advantages of an online study for both the researchers and

participants.

" It allows us to cast a wider net and obtain a larger sample size "

Calvio said. " Online studies can attract more diverse populations.

People of different backgrounds are going online more and more. "

That's an important point, considering that residents in rural areas

or cities without major medical facilities are less likely to

participate in research because of the distance they must travel.

A study published in the July 10 issue of the Journal of Clinical

Oncology examines research participation in land and finds the

state's rural and minority residents are underrepresented in

federally funded cancer treatment clinical trials.

" Without adequate diversity, it may be difficult to generalize about

trial results because you don't know whether new treatments or

preventive strategies have comparable effects " for different groups

of patients, according to R. Baquet, M.D., lead author of the

study and director of the University of land's Center for Health

Disparities Research and Outreach.

As research techniques evolve and computer access grows, the Internet

may play an increasing role in closing those gaps.

To find out about other research participation opportunities,

including online opportunities, visit ClinicalTrials.gov, a Web site

from the National Institutes of Health. Information tailored for

women about the process of participating in research is available

from the Society for Women's Health Research at

http://www.WomanCanDo.org. Individuals can find out if they're

eligible for the breast cancer cognitive function study by answering

nine short questions at this Web site:

http://cim.usuhs.mil/cancerstudy.

Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)

1025 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 701

Washington, DC 20036

United States

http://www.womenshealthresearch.org