Abstract A053: Development and evaluation of a community-informed intervention to improve clinical trial knowledge and interest: Preliminary findings
Authors: Washington Ariel , Dowe Brittany , Chapman Rochelle , Herrera Maida , Pavliscak Madison , Marks Bertram , Thompson Hayley 
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Nationally, racial and ethnic disparities in cancer clinical trial participation exist. Black Americans are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, with approximately 9% of clinical trial participants in studies sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) identifying as Black. As part of work supported by the NCI’s National Outreach Network, we adapted educational materials provided by the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) for dissemination across KCI’s catchment area. Our study aimed to increase knowledge and interest in clinical trials with a focus on concerns salient among Black Americans. Methods: We adapted a CRCHD educational PowerPoint presentation to create Project FACCTs: Facts about Cancer Clinical Trials, a multicultural online video intervention. Adaptation included input from our cancer center’s longstanding Black American community stakeholders and collaborators.  who shared a preference for video format versus PowerPoint presentation and recommended inclusion of a discussion of medical mistrust as well as information on clinical trial costs. Participants were recruited through KCI clinics and community partners. Assessments, provided by the CRCHD, included an 11-item measure of clinical trial knowledge (true/false) as well as 6-item measure of clinical trials interest and attitudes, including likelihood of future participation in a trial (strongly disagree to strongly agree).  Assessments were administered as pre- and post-tests. Results: The majority of our 307 participants identified as Black American (59.3%), female (76.9%), college graduates (63.5%), and had health insurance from a former or current employer (49.8%). Overall, clinical trial knowledge was relatively high at both pre-test (mean=86.7% correct) and post-test (mean=87% correct) across the entire sample. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference between Black and White participants on clinical trial knowledge from pre-test (Black: 84.5%; White: 94%) to post-test (Black: 85.4%; White: 93%) (F(1,2) =20.6, p=.01). Across the entire sample, a paired samples t-test showed that clinical trial interest increased after viewing Project FACCTs, (t (297)=-8.84, p=.01). A repeated measures ANOVA demonstrated that within groups there was statistically significant improvement in interest and attitudes towards participating in a clinical trial (F(1, 295) = 34.8 p=.01). Between groups, White participants had a higher overall score in clinical trial interest compared to Black participants (F(1, 2) =9.13, p=.01).  Conclusions: Project FACCTs shows promise as a tool that can improve community members' knowledge, awareness, and interest in clinical trials. One limitation of the work reported here is that participants already had high clinical trials knowledge so the intervention’s effect on those with low knowledge is an area for future inquiry.   

Citation Format: Ariel Washington, Brittany Dowe, Rochelle Chapman, Maida Herrera, Madison Pavliscak, Bertram Marks, Hayley Thompson. Development and evaluation of a community-informed intervention to improve clinical trial knowledge and interest: Preliminary findings [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A053.