TY - JOUR
T1 - Dissemination of trial results to study participants in Cambodia, Ethiopia and Pakistan
T2 - a qualitative study
AU - Cassidy-Seyoum, Sarah A.
AU - Adhikari, Bipin
AU - Mwaura, Muthoni
AU - Khan, Asia
AU - Zaidi, Shan E.Zehra
AU - Azizullah, Zahida
AU - Qurashi, Bushra
AU - Gellebo, Kansite
AU - Bamboro, Samuel Alemu
AU - Ean, Mom
AU - Tripura, Rupam
AU - Vattanak, Hem
AU - Vanda, Thy
AU - Sovann, Kem
AU - Simvieng, Ou
AU - Chanpheakdey, Phal
AU - Mnjala, Hellen
AU - Lee, Grant
AU - Ghanchi, Najia
AU - Cheah, Phaik Yeong
AU - Price, Ric N.
AU - Beg, M. Asim
AU - Degaga, Tamiru Shibiru
AU - Dysoley, Lek
AU - Thriemer, Kamala
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.
PY - 2026/8/10
Y1 - 2026/8/10
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Dissemination of study results to research participants is an ethical imperative, yet it is rarely implemented in resource-limited settings partly due to a lack of clear guidance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and explore dissemination activities that were conducted as part of a multi-site clinical trial of Plasmodium vivax treatment options, informing future dissemination strategies in similar resource-limited settings. DESIGN: Qualitative study using focus group discussions (FGDs) and an inductive-deductive thematic analysis approach. SETTING: Clinical trial study site catchment areas in Cambodia, Ethiopia and Pakistan. PARTICIPANTS: Dissemination attendees were invited to participate in FGDs, a subset agreeing and able to participate. There were 25 participants in Cambodia, 34 in Ethiopia and 23 in Pakistan. RESULTS: The dissemination activities were well accepted by participants despite some expectations in receiving individual results rather than only aggregated trial results and suggestions for broader community dissemination. Dissemination participants perceived having learnt from the dissemination, demonstrating their knowledge of the trial and its results and attributing it to the dissemination. Dissemination activities may have failed to correct certain misconceptions, including the blurred distinction between clinical care and trial-related care; however, the dissemination had positive impacts, including making participants feel part of a larger endeavour. CONCLUSION: Contributing to the limited data on dissemination in resource-limited settings, our findings provide context-informed recommendations that can be applied to similar settings. Our recommendations underscore the importance of tailoring activities according to participant preferences, such as potentially providing individual results and implementing broader community dissemination. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04411836.
AB - OBJECTIVES: Dissemination of study results to research participants is an ethical imperative, yet it is rarely implemented in resource-limited settings partly due to a lack of clear guidance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and explore dissemination activities that were conducted as part of a multi-site clinical trial of Plasmodium vivax treatment options, informing future dissemination strategies in similar resource-limited settings. DESIGN: Qualitative study using focus group discussions (FGDs) and an inductive-deductive thematic analysis approach. SETTING: Clinical trial study site catchment areas in Cambodia, Ethiopia and Pakistan. PARTICIPANTS: Dissemination attendees were invited to participate in FGDs, a subset agreeing and able to participate. There were 25 participants in Cambodia, 34 in Ethiopia and 23 in Pakistan. RESULTS: The dissemination activities were well accepted by participants despite some expectations in receiving individual results rather than only aggregated trial results and suggestions for broader community dissemination. Dissemination participants perceived having learnt from the dissemination, demonstrating their knowledge of the trial and its results and attributing it to the dissemination. Dissemination activities may have failed to correct certain misconceptions, including the blurred distinction between clinical care and trial-related care; however, the dissemination had positive impacts, including making participants feel part of a larger endeavour. CONCLUSION: Contributing to the limited data on dissemination in resource-limited settings, our findings provide context-informed recommendations that can be applied to similar settings. Our recommendations underscore the importance of tailoring activities according to participant preferences, such as potentially providing individual results and implementing broader community dissemination. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04411836.
KW - Clinical Trial
KW - Community Participation
KW - MEDICAL ETHICS
KW - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105046868098
U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119698
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-119698
M3 - Article
C2 - 42575554
AN - SCOPUS:105046868098
SN - 2044-6055
VL - 16
SP - e119698
JO - BMJ Open
JF - BMJ Open
IS - 8
ER -