Table 1 Comparison of the volunteer responses in the two case studies
Findings | Trial One responses | Trial Two responses |
|---|---|---|
Perceptions of trial objectives | Investigating how the body would react to the study vaccines and whether it would cause harm | What would happen to their health if they stopped taking septrin |
Side effects reported | Only 3 of 13 reported side effects which were: a swollen hand, dizzy feeling on first day of vaccination, heart palpitation but not related to high blood pressure | Only one volunteer reported that she became frequently sick since joining the trial |
Reasons for joining the trial | Hope to protect from HIV | Hope to get improved quality of life, help others in future to take less drugs |
Reasons for continuing in trial | Avoid catching HIV which information is reinforced by the research team at the scheduled follow up visits | It is a strategy to cope with HIV |
Why a volunteer would drop out of the trial | Loss of interest, no time to attend follow-up visits, difficult with finding money to travel to research clinic | Failure to get money to travel for clinic visit, discouragement from other members in the community |
aWho was involved in decision making | The female volunteers had to inform and sometimes seek permission from spouses. A few female volunteers made their own decisions. The male volunteers only make their own decisions and informed spouses but were not obliged to. | Both male and female volunteers made their own decisions and usually they would not share with their partners |