Personal resources
cancer
CANCER
Another theme, which was prominent in the participants’ considerations about taking part in the clinical trial, was that of personal resources (Table It demands personal resources to agree to participate in a clinical trialThemes Condensation Personal resources This theme relates to the required need for a surplus of mental strength and capacity for agreeing to participate in the clinical trial    “I think it is a psychological thing whether you agree or not.” – The comprehensiveness of the clinical trial The comprehensiveness of a clinical trial refers to how long the study participation is and if the study is easy to understand   “I think that the more long-run the study is, the more I think ‘I cannot handle this’. So long projects where you will be contacted again in 2 years, I decline to participate in.” “It is always important when you are offered to participate that you understand what it is all about, basically what do you want to study. I think that is important, so you know what is going on.” Many projects Some of the participants have had considerations regarding the number of clinical trials they were offered to participate in as they have had to decline some due to their lack of energy    “I think more about the number of clinical trials you are introduced to when you get the message that you have cancer. Then I thought ‘well, this is fine, I will say “yes” to this and “no” to something else because it becomes too much’. I don’t know how many women will say “yes” to every clinical trial, there’s probably some who do. (…) So, I think it is more about the extent to which you have to participate when you cannot manage it in the first place.” Personal and economic costs One participant mentioned that some patients may be excluded from the clinical trials due to the personal and economic costs of participating    “I have a surplus of mental and physical resources but there is a lot of patients who struggle in everyday life because the chemo is tough and they don’t have any energy, so I would imagine that some do not have the strength to participate this time [the neurophysiological examination]. So, it would be a shame and it is not only this clinical trial, but it is probably also like that in a lot of other clinical trials, and I think it is a shame that some lose their interest because all their resources are drawn upon both economically and personally.” – Opportunity to back out of the study The opportunity to back out of the study played an important role when deciding to participate in the clinical trial    “It was also good to know that if I could not handle it, I could back out. It was also a good thing that you know that you do not agree to participate and then you must finish, there is always an opportunity to back out again.” – 