A new national survey highlights the disconnect between primary care provider support for clinical trials and real-world patient access, revealing challenges in discussing trials with patients.
A new national survey conducted by Patient Advocate Foundation has revealed a significant gap between primary care providers' (PCPs) strong support for clinical trials and the consistent engagement of these patients. Despite 98% of PCPs viewing clinical trials positively and believing they are valuable to the broader medical community, only 37% report ever referring a patient to a trial. This survey, which surveyed 503 actively practicing U.S. board-certified PCPs aged 18+ between March 5-18, 2026, underscores that while there is broad support for clinical trials among healthcare providers, these conversations are not consistently happening with patients.
According to the survey, 96% of PCPs believe clinical trials are valuable and 86% say they are likely to refer patients to them. However, only a third (37%) have actually referred a patient. The disconnect is evident in how these discussions occur: more than two in five PCPs discuss clinical trials with patients when prompted by the patient themselves, while nearly one-tenth never bring it up.
PCPs identify several supports that would make discussing trials easier, including providing clinical trial education (75%), ready-to-share patient materials (66%), and dedicated trial coordinators (58%). Despite these identified needs, only 37% of PCPs have ever referred a patient to a trial. This suggests there is a significant gap between the positive attitudes towards clinical trials and their actual implementation in routine care.
The research also highlights that while patients are interested in participating in clinical trials, they often lack information about opportunities offered by their healthcare providers. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of adults with chronic conditions report never having been discussed with about clinical trials, yet 71% say they would be likely to participate if given the opportunity.
The survey found that patient willingness is influenced more by clear information and provider guidance than financial considerations alone. However, persistent barriers include travel distance from trial sites (43%), out-of-pocket costs (40%), and gaps in understanding potential risks and benefits of clinical trials (85%).
Patient-provider disconnects are further reinforced when PCPs do have conversations about clinical trials. These discussions often occur in response to patient requests or disease progression, rather than as a proactive step by the provider.
Kim Baich, Chief Impact Officer at Patient Advocate Foundation, emphasized that "Together, these findings point to a pivotal opportunity to strengthen how clinical trial conversations happen in practice." The foundation's Opening Doors to Clinical Trials program aims to address information gaps and administrative burdens through education tools and resources designed to facilitate more consistent primary care referral pathways.
The survey methodology involved online polling among 503 PCPs aged 18+ practicing actively in the continental U.S., with a 95% confidence level margin of error of ±5.0 percentage points. The patient poll, conducted between April 9-13, 2026, included 2,041 adults (aged 18 and over) with chronic health conditions, providing insights into patients' perspectives on clinical trial discussions.
Patient Advocate Foundation is dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford their care while improving the healthcare system. Since its founding in 1996, it has helped more than 3.8 million people access and navigate care, granted over $7 billion in financial assistance, provided personalized case management support to over 350,000 patients, and elevated the patient's voice to drive improvements in healthcare.
ABOOUT THE PATIENT ADVOCATE FOUNDATION: Patient Advocate Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to helping patients navigate, access, and afford their care while improving the healthcare system for all. Learn more at Uniting.PatientAdvocate.org. Media contact: Caitlin Donovan (202) 465-5113.
This survey underscores the need for better communication and support systems to bridge the gap between PCP enthusiasm for clinical trials and patient engagement, ultimately improving outcomes for future generations.
