Opinion: Support family caregivers to improve and diversify clinical trials
During the Covid-19 pandemic, America’s 53 million family caregivers gained some long overdue recognition for their vital role as unpaid extenders of an under-resourced health care workforce. The clinical trial enterprise, however, has yet to appreciate caregivers — and fully engage them — as critical partners in recruiting and supporting people who are older, disabled, or have Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, or other chronic medical conditions for research studies.
There are many reasons why people — patients and caregivers alike — may want to participate in clinical trials. Some are motivated by the hope of finding a cure or a life-extending treatment for themselves; others seek to help others, even if there is little hope for themselves or their loved ones. For caregivers, there is the assurance of getting the best possible care for their loved ones, typically for free or at reduced cost, as well as the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about their loved ones’ condition and treatment.
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