Published on October 14, 2025 • 1-minute read
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A recent Angus Reid poll reveals that 90% of Canadians support enhancing access to clinical trials for cancer patients.
In collaboration with the Canadian Cancer Society, the poll indicates that 80% of respondents believe these experimental treatments provide new options that are otherwise unavailable to most cancer patients.
Clinical trials undergo approval from a research ethics board, and their protocols are reviewed by Health Canada. However, concerns about potential risks persist, with two-thirds (67%) of Canadians fearing that clinical trials may lead to adverse side effects. The survey found that many individuals would be reluctant to participate in a clinical trial if diagnosed with cancer, citing concerns over side effects (74%) and a lack of trust in unproven treatments (66%).
While a majority (56%) have heard of clinical trials, they admit to having limited knowledge about them, and over one-third (36%) claim to know nothing at all. Only about 7% report having a good understanding of clinical trials, and a mere 1% have participated in one.
The online survey was conducted from January 10-17, involving a randomized sample of 2,044 Canadian adults. For reference, a probability sample of this size has a margin of error of +/- 1.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
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