Table 1 Themes and sub-themes identified by analysis of interviews

Perception of medical research

   Good understanding of clinical research

   Positive attitude towards motivations of doctors performing research

   Positive attitude towards research participation

Importance of risk in the decision to participate in research

   Important of the degree of risk in determining willingness to participate in research

   Willingness to participate in research decreases as the risk level of the study increases

Beliefs regarding benefits derived from research participation

Understanding of research concepts in a clinical trial

   Discomfort with randomization

   Variable understanding of concept of equipoise

   Discomfort with doctor not knowing which drug is better

   Discomfort with doctor being blind to treatment assignment

Issues with informed consent

   Informed consent is an important value

   Little discomfort with written informed consent

   Mixed acceptance of proxy consent

   Mixed reactions toward giving permission for children participation in research

Trust is an important value for patients

Concern with the prospect that research involves experimentation