Public Perception of Clinical Trials in the Context of Selected Socio-Demographic, Health and Health Care-Related Factors – Cross-Sectional Study in Poland

Background/Objectives: Public perception of clinical trials (CT) in Poland remains underexplored. This study aims to assess attitudes towards clinical trials, identify key socio-demographic and health-related predictors of participation willingness, and evaluate the perceived health impact (CT-PHI) associated with trial involvement. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted (March 2–20, 2022) among 2050 Polish adults who had used medical services in the past 24 months. The study examined socio-demographics factors, health-related factors (self-perceived health, EQ-5D-5L, the level of knowledge of patient rights, use of public vs. private health care, adherence) and motivations for participation (health-related, financial, and altruistic). Multivariate logistic and generalized linear models identified predictors of participation willingness and CT-PHI variability. Results: Overall, 56.3% of the respondents expressed willingness to participate in clinical trials. The main motivation was health improvement (45.8%), followed by financial incentives (23.2%) and altruism (22.7%). Those driven by health reasons exhibited the highest sensitivity to demographic and health-related factors. Socioeconomic factors played a greater role for financially motivated individuals, while altruistic participants showed the least variability in influencing factors. Conclusions: Willingness to participate in clinical trials in Poland is influenced by the motivation type. A patient-centered approach in recruitment strategies, considering diverse motivations and socio-demographic factors, is essential for optimizing participation in clinical trials.