The Power of Purpose in Clinical Trial Participation

People join clinical trials for many reasons.

Sometimes, it’s to access treatment that isn’t yet available through traditional care. Sometimes it’s out of a willingness to try something new when standard therapies no longer work. And sometimes, it’s out of a desire to simply help others experience possible benefits.

Regardless of the reason someone opts to participate in a clinical trial, what unites every participant is this: they’re saying yes to uncertainty so someone else might have more certainty in the future.

That’s a powerful act of service. Or in the words of Ari Altman, a clinical trial volunteer at Remington-Davis: “It’s a way to pay it forward.”

Why Framing Clinical Trials as Service Matters

The traditional way we talk about trials often focuses on access: “You may qualify for a new treatment.” Or on logistics: “We’ll cover your time and travel.”

But those messages only tell part of the story.

With healthy volunteers, the chance to help others is an abundantly clear contribution. But the same spirit is present among many patients who say yes to trials after trying other treatments. They’re thinking of family members, future generations, or others facing the same condition.

Inviting people into trials with the message — “Your participation matters for you and for others” — reflects the full truth of what they’re doing.

Participating in a Clinical Trial: The Psychology of Purpose

Purpose is a uniquely human motivator. It helps us persevere, make sense of hardship, and find value in experiences that are otherwise difficult.

In clinical trials, purpose can show up in small but meaningful ways:

• A patient with type 2 diabetes joining a trial not only for better glucose control, but to help the next generation manage it more easily.
• A person with severe asthma participating in a new biologic study, knowing it might offer relief to others still struggling to breathe.
• A healthy adult enrolling in a vaccine study, thinking of loved ones or at-risk communities who might benefit down the road.

For participants navigating illness, clinical trials can also offer a sense of agency. They become part of the process — not just a recipient of care, but a contributor to its future.

The emotional toll of illness can be heavy. Feeling like you’re making a difference can help carry some of that weight.

Changing the Narrative: The Purpose-Driven Recruitment of Research Volunteers

Framing clinical trials as service is about the language you use, but it’s also about connection. It begins with how we engage communities and continues with how we show up virtually.

In the Community

• Meet people where they are: Community health events, church groups, and senior centers are places where trust is already present. Bring the message there — that trial participation is a way to help shape better care for the whole community.
• Honor both motivations: In conversations, recognize that people may be looking for access and purpose. Acknowledge the personal benefit while emphasizing the collective good.
• Use real stories: Share experiences from past participants, especially those who say they felt proud, hopeful, or connected because of their involvement. These stories resonate more than statistics ever will.

Online

• Lead with impact: Instead of just advertising compensation or trial features, highlight what participation makes possible. Use headlines like “Help advance care for future patients like you.”
• Feature diverse voices: Include testimonials from healthy volunteers and patients across different ages, races, and backgrounds. Everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in research.
• Reinforce service throughout: From study pages to reminder emails, keep the message consistent: “Your participation is helping create better treatments for you, but also for others.”

Backing It Up With Patient-Centric Support in Clinical Studies

Purposeful participation can’t exist in a vacuum; it has to be backed by care.

Participants who feel respected, seen, and supported are more likely to stay engaged. That’s why it’s essential to build a study environment that reflects the dignity of what they’re doing.

This means:

• Flexible appointment times
• Clear, compassionate communication
• Comfortable spaces during long visits
• Transportation support when needed
• A team that treats them like partners

When the experience reflects the message that participants are making an important contribution, trust grows, retention improves, and the research benefits, too.

A Legacy Worth Honoring in Clinical Research

Clinical trials are about people and the decisions they make to help others, even in the face of uncertainty.

Whether someone joins a clinical trial to access a potential treatment or to support research that might help others in the future, they’re offering something valuable and generous.

When we shift the narrative around research studies to reflect that, we meet people at a deeper level and honor the fuller weight of what it means to be a participant.