# Occurrence and management of premature clinical trial termination: a survey of UK healthcare professionals

## TL;DR

Most UK healthcare professionals have dealt with clinical trials ending early, facing emotional and practical challenges with few resources to help manage the situation.

## Contribution

This study is the first to survey UK healthcare professionals about their experiences managing premature clinical trial termination.

## Key findings

- 65% of healthcare professionals experienced at least one premature trial termination.
- Challenges included communicating with participants and managing emotional distress.
- Few formal resources exist to support healthcare professionals in this situation.

## Abstract

A proportion of clinical trials terminate prematurely, due to logistical or conduct issues and emerging scientific data. Due to a paucity of literature and non-standardised reporting, the rate for all trials is unknown, and little is known about the number and experience of healthcare professionals managing this situation. This study aimed to identify how many UK healthcare professionals delivering clinical research have experienced premature trial termination, the challenges experienced and resources available for managing this situation.

Following ethics approval, a national e-survey of self-identifying healthcare professionals delivering clinical research was conducted (April–September 2022). Analysis included descriptive statistics and content analysis for categorization of challenges.

A total of 65% (n = 89) of healthcare professionals had experienced ≥ 1 premature trial termination. Challenges included communicating with research participants and/or families (n = 20) and emotional distress for participants and/or families (n = 21). Forty-eight healthcare professionals identified resources; of those available for review, one resource provided guidance relating to research participants.

Premature clinical trial termination creates challenges for care delivery and impacts on participants and/or families. Healthcare professionals need preparation and training to ensure participants are appropriately supported if their trial prematurely terminates.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-026-09441-9.

The majority of UK healthcare professionals have experienced clinical trials prematurely terminating.Healthcare professionals reported experiencing challenges and perceived that research participants and/or families also found the situation to be challenging. Challenges were both emotional and practical in nature.Healthcare professionals have a lack of formal resources to help them manage participants in the event of a clinical trial prematurely ending.Healthcare professionals, research participants and families need to be aware of this potential situation.
Future research is needed to explore the experience and what resources healthcare professionals find helpful in supporting this situation.

The majority of UK healthcare professionals have experienced clinical trials prematurely terminating.

Healthcare professionals reported experiencing challenges and perceived that research participants and/or families also found the situation to be challenging. Challenges were both emotional and practical in nature.

Healthcare professionals have a lack of formal resources to help them manage participants in the event of a clinical trial prematurely ending.

Healthcare professionals, research participants and families need to be aware of this potential situation.

Future research is needed to explore the experience and what resources healthcare professionals find helpful in supporting this situation.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-026-09441-9.