Health-Related Research as Important as Homeland Security for Nation's Priorities
WASHINGTON—Jan. 26, 2006—Six in 10 Americans (58%) say greater funding for medical and health research is essential to the country's future health and economic prosperity, according to a new national poll released today by Research!America.
More than half (51%) think a greater national commitment to medical research is a way to manage U.S. healthcare costs, and 51% want President Bush to ask for increased funding for health-related research next month when he makes his 2007 budget request.
With the President's State of the Union address set for Jan. 31, the Research!America poll finds Americans rate health-related research (94%) as equal to homeland security (92%) in terms of the nation's priorities, and 94% think accelerating medical research is an important national priority.
"Americans place a high value on medical research and recognize it as one of our nation's most crucial priorities," said The Honorable John Edward Porter, Research!America's board chair. "They understand that strong investment in research and science is critical not only for our global scientific leadership but for the health of our economy and the American people."
The poll also finds:
- 77% think the U.S. should spend more for prevention and public health research than the current one cent out of every health dollar;
- 58% believe we should spend more on medical and health research than the current six cents of every health dollar;
- 63% are willing to pay $1 per week more in taxes for additional medical research; and
- 57% are willing to pay $1 more for each prescription drug to support additional medical research.
As for participating in research, only 15% of Americans say they have ever been part of a clinical research study, but almost two out of three (63%) say they are likely to join such a study. Despite their willingness to participate, only 6% say their doctors have ever suggested they participate in a clinical research study.
"Our latest national poll finds strong support for medical research across the country, regardless of age, education or political preference," said Mary Woolley, president of Research!America. "Americans from all walks of life make the connection that our country's investment in research is essential to maintaining the health of its citizens and sustaining economic prosperity."
Woolley will present further findings from the poll Jan. 31 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, at an event hosted by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association on "The Future of Medical Imaging."
About Research!America
Research!America is the nation's largest not-for-profit public education and advocacy alliance working to make medical and health research-including research to prevent disease, disability and injury and to promote health-a much higher national priority. Research!America has been gauging Americans' attitudes toward medical and health research for more than a decade.
Research!America commissioned Charlton Research Company to conduct the poll by telephone among 800 U.S. citizens ages 18 and over in January 2006. The sample was proportionate to the nation's demographics, including geography, gender and ethnicity. The results have a sampling error of ± 3.1%.