Table 2.

Potential trial participants: ranking of statements (from most to least important)

Statement	Rank	Median	IQR	Range
What are the possible side effects of trial treatment?	1 (most important)	2	1.5–3.5	1–5
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?	2	2	2–3	1–4
What will I have to do?	3	2.5	2–4	2–5
What are the possible advantages of taking part?	4	3	2–4	2–5
What is the treatment that is being tested?	5	3	2–4	1–7
What will happen to my treatment when the research study stops?	6	3	2.5–4	2–4
How will my treatment be decided?	7	3.5	3–5.5	2–7
What will happen to me if I take part?	8	4	1–5.5	1–7
What is the purpose of this study?	9	4	2–4	1–7
Will I know what treatment I am on?	10	4	3–7.5	3–9
Has the scientific quality of study been checked?	11	4.5	3–5.5	2–8
What are the alternatives for treatment?	12	4.5	3–6	3–7
What happens if relevant new information becomes available?	13	5	3–6	1–7
Will my general practitioner be told?	14	5	4–6.5	4–4
What will happen to the results of the study?	15	5	4–6.5	3–7
Who has overall responsibility for the study?	16	5	4.5–5	4–7
Who has approved the study?	17	5	5–6	2–7
Do I have to take part?	18	5.5	3.5–8	2–9
Who could I contact for further information?	19	5.5	4–6	4–7
Who will have access to my data?	20	5.5	4.5–7	3–7
What if I have a complaint?	21	5.5	5–7.5	4–9
Why have I been invited?	22	6	3.5–7.5	2–8
Will my taking part in the study be kept confidential?	23	6	4.5–7	3–8
Will information from my existing medical records be accessed?	24	6	4.5–7	2–8
What will happen if I don’t want to carry on with the study?	25	6	5–6.5	4–7
How have patients and the public been involved in the design of the study?	26	6	5–7	4–7
How will data be stored and disposed of?	27	6	5.5–7	4–8
What is involved in the consent process?	28	7	5–8	4–9
Who is funding the research?	29	7	5.5–8	3–9
Will expenses be reimbursed?	30	8	5.5–8	5–8
Will there be any impact on any insurance policies?	31	8	5.5–8.5	3–9
Will I receive any payments for taking part?	32 (least important)	8	6.5–8.5	6–9