Willingness of the Chinese public to participate in medical research during a pandemic: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to assess the willingness of Chinese public to participate in pandemic-related medical research and to identify the associated factors. A Cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling was employed to survey 997 Chinese public in Sichuan Province, between September and October 2024. Data were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire, including general demographics and the public's willingness to participate in pandemic-related medical research. Chi-square tests and Binary logistic regression analysis were conducted to identify the factors influencing public willingness of participation. A total of 655 Chinese public indicated a willingness to participate in pandemic-related medical research, while 342 expressed a hesitant attitude, citing primary concerns about privacy breaches (27.1%), misuse of data (22.8%), lack of time for participation (16.4%), and lack of research awareness (11.5%). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that being aged 18 to 35 years (odds ratio [OR] = 1.589, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.053-2.397), having an average monthly income of 3001 to 5000 yuan (OR = 0.453, 95% CI: 0.310-0.662) or below 3000 yuan (OR = 0.527, 95% CI: 0.342-0.812), education level of college (OR = 1.926, 95% CI: 1.325-2.801) and postgraduate or above (OR = 2.082, 95% CI: 1.232-3.517), being knowledgeable (OR = 2.141, 95% CI: 1.152-3.172) or great knowledgeable about epidemics (OR = 2.341, 95% CI: 1.153-5.454), trust in healthcare professionals (OR = 1.564, 95% CI: 1.012-2.418), trust in the government (OR = 2.341, 95% CI: 1.153-5.454), and history of infectious disease (OR = 1.378, 95% CI: 1.073-1.770) were significantly associated with public willingness of participation. This study demonstrated prevailing Chinese public endorsement for medical research during a pandemic. By disseminating targeted information and implementing strategic measures, governments, healthcare professionals, and medical institutions, could enhance public motivation to actively participation. Future research conduct qualitative studies for deeper understanding of public participation in medical research.