At Efforia, we are constantly striving to answer questions that can reveal truths about enhancing our lives that hold true in "real-life" scenarios.
One question we ponder often: Is asking participants to pay for protocol supplies scientifically sound?
Our answer is a resounding yes, and here's why.
Typically, participating in clinical trials is free. In many cases and in many cases participants are paid compensation, provided a token of appreciation or reimbursed. However, this model doesn't necessarily reflect the real-world intricacies of most healthcare and performance treatments, which usually come with a cost.
We, along with some others in our field, have started to question if participant paid trials (or free participation for things that might otherwise have a cost) might distort the findings.
Does compensating participants for their involvement in trials alter the outcomes? It likely does. In real life, when people incur a cost for something, they tend to value it differently. This principle is rooted in behavioral economics. The simple change in perception of value can lead a whole host of complex changes in beliefs and adherence - all significantly influencing outcomes.
Furthermore, the financial constraints often cause many study questions to never see the light of day. Running trials, like those you will find on Efforia, requires substantial funding. We believe it's essential to eliminate these barriers. When participants contribute financially to the products and services that the study revolves around, we collectively work towards bringing valuable findings into existence. Without this model, we might lose potential insights, resulting in decision-making based on anecdote and blind faith, rather than hard evidence.
Efforia is committed to ensuring that the conditions of each study closely mirror real-life situations as much as possible, while maintaining a strict ethical stance. It's crucial to note that it's not always appropriate for participants to pay. However, rest assured that every single study on Efforia goes through a rigorous review for ethics protections before anyone is enrolled. For the sake of transparency, all Efforia protocols are listed on clinicaltrials.gov.
In conclusion, asking participants to pay for protocol supplies is not only scientifically sound, but it also enhances the validity of the study outcomes by modeling real-world conditions more accurately. This approach also enables a wider range of research questions to be explored, thus contributing to the advancement of knowledge in our field.