flucamp young clinical trial volunteer

We’re used to hearing about the younger generations being under-represented in a political or professional context, but it has also become the case in medical research as well.

Gen Z is under-represented in clinical trials. Whilst 8% of England’s population falls under this category (people aged between 18 and 24), they represent only 4.4% of those taking part in medical research, according to research by The Guardian. 

There’s no shortage of articles kicking around claiming that Gen Z is responsible for running various industries into the ground – they’ve been accused of not buying enough diamonds, not going to the pub enough, and caring too much about the environment to truly throw themselves into rampant consumerism. As a result, hearing that they’re also apparently letting the side down in medical research could understandably be met with a certain degree of scepticism as to whether this is a big deal or not. 

Unfortunately, this one might represent a genuine issue for Gen Z itself.

What’s the problem with fewer young people taking part in medical research?

Under-representation of Gen Z in medical research sets up a long-term problem with health outcomes for that generation. There is a risk that millions of young people will miss out on new treatments, or that the current situation could lead to medicines being prescribed that are ineffective, inappropriate, or even in some cases outright unsafe. Research from The Guardian highlights the risks of this low level of participation from younger people.

This is due to the fact that these medications will have been tested on a cross section of society that reacts very differently to the way younger generations do to the same treatments. Clinical trials are carried out very carefully and very thoroughly to get a complete understanding of how medication works on a broad range of individuals and without the right balance of participants, this leads to a fundamental flaw in the core data.

This current drought of younger participants could have a knock-on effect that stretches out for decades, due to the steady and meticulous pace that medical research takes.  

Young people are generally healthier so is it a big deal that they’re not as well represented in clinical trials?

Statistically, younger people do indeed have fewer health complications, especially for the big killers like heart disease and cancer. However, first, that number isn’t zero. Secondly, whilst you might feel that most people only start to reliably remember the name of their designated GP after the age of 35, there are still actually a vast array of conditions that affect younger people and the proportion might surprise you.

Around 45% of young people are affected by some kind of long term physical or mental health issue. Some of the common conditions that make up that 45% include:

  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Asthma
  • Epilepsy
  • Eating disorders
  • Multiple other mental health difficulties

There’s also a far greater awareness of conditions like autism and various learning difficulties which whilst not new, are far better understood.

Younger people are shaped by the major life transitions one goes through as a young adult, as well as social pressures and inequalities that are distinct from other age groups. As a result, their healthcare needs are equally different.

On a far more basic level, biologically, different age groups also simply react differently to treatment and conditions. Whilst the difference is not as pronounced as it is when comparing children to adults, there is still significant distinction between different age groups in adulthood too.

Why aren’t Gen Z getting involved?

The simplest reason for this low involvement appears to be a general lack of awareness of opportunities to participate in medical research. This is further compounded by low levels of targeted recruitment for this age group as well.

Gen Z also generally has concerns around the confidentiality promised by those conducting the trials and is inclined to be cautious in signing up. It’s argued that clinical research has an off-putting “research culture” as well which doesn’t help.

Why should you take part?

Beyond a vague sense of “duty for your generation” which is unlikely to persuade most people, a clinical trial can provide you a decent number of benefits.

First of all, there’s the pay. You may be a volunteer for a medical trial, but that does not mean you are an unpaid volunteer. Being able to catch up on your Netflix backlog whilst getting paid does have a certain appeal. You will also have certain expenses covered during the trial on top of your pay.  

On a more practical level, clinical trials can also be a lifeline for those with certain long-term illnesses and conditions that are not being well managed, or that don’t have a solid treatment at present. Clinical trials represent a significant hope for those who may not have had any before.

 Long term mental illnesses like the treatment resistant depression experienced by Gulliver Waite are incredibly difficult to manage, and in Gulliver’s case, a clinical trial gave him a pathway out of a very dark time in his life. Whilst there’s no guarantee that the treatment will work, and there’s also the chance you’ll be assigned to a test group and only given a placebo, it is still something practical that can help.

If you’re interested in taking part in the ongoing fight to defeat flu and the common cold, get in touch with Flucamp today to find out if you’re eligible and what you might get out of it. You’ll even be doing your bit for the betterment of your generation’s medical care.