Russell, ElizabethRajaram Vishe, Ketki2026-01-132026-01-132025https://go.griffith.ie/handle/123456789/685This dissertation looks at how young adults (aged 20–35) in Mumbai and Dublin think about clinical trials. The aim was to compare their awareness, willingness to participate, and the barriers they face. To achieve this aim, the research followed a mixed-methods design. A total of 120 participants (60 from Mumbai and 60 from Dublin, with equal representation from healthcare and non-healthcare backgrounds) completed an online survey. In addition, qualitative insights were gathered through open-ended responses from 10 participants to capture deeper reflections on trust, safety concerns, and cultural influences. This approach provided both a broad overview of patterns and richer, context-specific perspectives. The findings revealed that while general awareness of clinical trials was high in both cities (83.3% of respondents had heard of them), detailed understanding of processes, ethical oversight, and participant rights remained moderate. Trust and safety emerged as the most decisive factors in shaping willingness to participate. Fear of side effects (reported by 75% of respondents) and concerns about being “treated like a test subject” were key barriers, while family influence also played a role in both cultural settings. Interestingly, the comparison showed that young adults in Mumbai and Dublin shared more similarities than differences: both groups displayed cautious willingness, similar reliance on healthcare professionals for information, and skepticism towards social media advertisements. The most striking difference was that healthcare-educated participants in both cities consistently showed higher levels of understanding, trust, and willingness to participate than their non-healthcare counterparts, highlighting the importance of education over cultural background. The study concludes that while culture influences perceptions to some extent, globalization, digital access, and shared concerns about safety and trust have created strong cross-cultural similarities. The findings suggest that improving youth participation in clinical trials requires transparent communication, trust-building initiatives, and targeted education rather than relying solely on cultural tailoring. Practical recommendations include using healthcare professionals as primary communicators, integrating clinical trial literacy into educational programs, and leveraging digital platforms for awareness while avoiding over-reliance on advertising. This research contributes to the growing body of literature by filling a gap in understanding young, healthy adults’ views in a cross-cultural context. It emphasizes that education and trust are more critical than nationality in determining willingness to engage in clinical trials. For industry and regulators, these insights provide valuable guidance on designing recruitment strategies that are both ethical and effective. For me as a student, the dissertation was a meaningful learning process, as it connected pharmaceutical business and technology with real-world challenges of clinical research engagement.Clinical trialsThesis