Identifying the behavioural determinants of trialists for the design and delivery of greener trials - A cross-sectional survey study.

OBJECTIVES

To understand the behavioural determinants of people working in clinical trials ('trialists') to support greener trials which, in this survey, refer to those being designed and delivered without unnecessary, disproportionate, or unexamined carbon emissions.

STUDY

DESIGN

AND

SETTING

We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of trialists involved in the design, conduct, analysis, or reporting of clinical trials. Recruitment targeted established trial networks in the UK and Ireland supplemented by social media and snowball sampling. Data collected included demographics, attitudes to climate change risk (ACCRs), perceived capability, opportunity and motivation in relation to design and delivery of greener trials through application of the 'Capabilities, Opportunities, Motivations - Behaviour' (COM-B) model, and self-reported behavioural specification for greener trials.

RESULTS

We received 88 responses mainly from the UK and Ireland. Respondents, on average, were concerned about climate change. Most respondents considered the carbon impact of their professional activities at least sometimes. Most respondents reported high levels of psychological capability and reflective motivation, but less agreement on social opportunity, physical opportunity, and automatic motivation when considering the design and delivery of greener trials. Several key actors (e.g., trial staff, funders) and actions (e.g., institutional incentives, green technologies) were proposed by respondents as important targets for change.

CONCLUSION

This study investigated trialists' perspectives on the design and delivery of greener trials through a behavioural lens. Our findings highlight key behavioural determinants that could be targets for future intervention development. In addition, our results demonstrate the range of actors and actions that are important in the clinical trial ecosystem to ensure greener trials become routine. Behavioural models offer valuable insights for guiding the development of relevant strategies for change.