Abstract LB-142: Physician-engagement in cancer clinical trial recruitment: Leveraging partnerships among community-academic research institutions for direct accrual of racial/ethnic minorities and the medically underserved
Authors: Brown Jameisha B. 
Published: July 2016

Background: Although approximately 20% of adults are eligible, adult cancer clinical trial (CCT) accrual in the U.S. lingers around 3%. Participation rates are significantly lower among racial/ethnic minorities and the medically underserved, who are likely to have poorer outcomes than the larger population. CCT participation is increasingly a concern of healthy equity and social justice among racial/ethnic minorities. This study proposes a promising strategy for engaging physician-oncologists and communities to stream-line CCT awareness, access and accrual of racial/ethnic minorities.

Methods: Study recruited 40 community and academic-research institutions to provide CCT education days at a local, pre-dominantly African American mega-church, (N = 253) participants, during one-year. There was pre/post-testing of general clinical trial knowledge each-day. Education included a 3-patient panel-discussion of their trial experiences. Four physician-oncologists provided expertise on the significance of minority representation in CCTs. The physician-oncologists discussed the types of CCTs that were locally available for specific-types of cancer. Anticipated outcome was provision of recruitment opportunity of potentially-eligible participants while addressing any gaps in CCT knowledge.

Results: The (N = 253) participants: (75%) African American, (13%) Hispanic/Latino, (2%) American Indian/Alaskan Native, (6%) Asian, and (2%) Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Pre-survey (N = 104) included: How much do you know about clinical research?; a lot (23%), general sense (51%), very-little (21%), never heard of it, (3%). Thirty-eight percent were past participants in some type of trial. Post survey (N = 171), participants indicated: would very likely(51%) and somewhat likely(41%) participate in a CCT if invited by doctor. An additional (3%) were somewhat-unlikely or very-unlikely (6%) to participate in CCT if invited by doctor. Post-survey, most-notable reasons for lack of participation: never invited (28.5%); lack of information (16.5%); didn't know who to talk to about trials (6.5%); worried about my rights (1%); hassle of participation (2%); insurance (2%); worried about health risk (6.5%); other (6.5%); no reply (30.5%).

Conclusions: Physician-engagement in direct community CCT recruitment strategies demonstrates a hopeful mechanism for reaching diverse, interested, potentially-eligible cancer subjects, in a culturally-appropriate and timely manner.

Citation Format: Jameisha B. Brown. Physician-engagement in cancer clinical trial recruitment: Leveraging partnerships among community-academic research institutions for direct accrual of racial/ethnic minorities and the medically underserved. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-142.