Recognition of Clinical Research Coordinators among Non-Nursing Major Students

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to investigate recognition of clinical research coordinators (CRCs) among non-nursing major students. METHODS: The participants were 424 undergraduate or graduate students whose majors were related to life science, physical therapy or pharmaceutical engineering in three universities located in Busan. Data were collected with self administrated questionnaire including general characteristics (5 items), and recognition of CRCs (4 items). The collected data were coded and was analyzed using SPSS Version 18.0 for Windows for frequency and percentage, or mean and standard deviation. The Chi-squared test was used to assess the relationship between general characteristics and recognition of CRCs. All statistical tests were performed at the 0.05 level of significance for two-tailed tests. RESULTS: The percent of 'ever having heard of CRCs' was 28.3 % and 35.0 % of them showed the intention to work as CRCs. The 'ever having heard of CRCs' was related to major (p<0.001) and 'ever having heard of clinical trials' (p<0.001). The intention to work as CRCs was not related to gender, education, major, and 'ever having heard of clinical trials'. CONCLUSION: The level of 'ever having heard of CRCs' among non-nursing major students was lower than that of nurses. It is needed that more active introduction or promotion of CRCs to non-nursing major students through both regular curriculum or training programs. And it is also recommended to develop the job description for CRCs with nurse license or CRCs without nurse license.