To examine how patients and caregivers decide whether to enroll in a clinic
al trial, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 family c
aregivers of patients with mild to moderate AD who were recruited for a cli
nical trial. They found that a caregiver who enrolls a patient in research
generally involves the patient in the decision-making process, reports that
the patient shares in the decision, and regards the risks and benefits to
the patient and to the caregiver as interdependent.