Abstract PO-085: A mixed-methods study of minority recruitment for cancer genomics research at a large urban safety net hospital
Authors: Zhang Tina , Modanlo Nina , Li David , Mahdaviani Kiana , Ko Naomi 
Published: January 2022

Background: Racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in cancer genomics research, and advancements in personalized medicine without inclusion of minority groups is likely to further exacerbate disparities in care and treatment outcomes. Prior research has demonstrated successful recruitment of minority populations for biospecimen donation through community-based approaches, physician engagement, culturally appropriate education, and on-site services. However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding practical, low-cost interventions to maximize enrollment in biospecimen research studies at hospitals serving a diverse patient population. Objective: This study surveys eligible participants for cancer biospecimen research and aims to intervene on barriers to enrollment. Methods: Between January 2021 and June 2021, participants eligible for four different genomics studies were surveyed regarding reasons for consenting to biospecimen donation as well as barriers to participating among those who declined. The survey consists of six multi-part questions for a total of thirteen questions and requires an average of five minutes to complete. Results: Preliminary results include survey responses from 30 participants. Fourteen participants self-identified as Black or African American, twelve as White, two as Asian, and two as other. One participant self-identified as Hispanic. The majority of participants (73%) consented to biobank specimen collection including 50% of Black participants, 92% of White participants, and 100% of Asian and other participants. Of the eight participants who did not consent to donation, seven were Black. Among nine participants who reported that the study was recommended by their provider, all but one consented to donation. The majority of participants who consented to biospecimen collection reported contributing important information to medical science (73%) and potentially helping others with similar conditions in the future (68%) as reasons for donation. One participant who declined biospecimen donation reported that he would have felt less anxious if clinical staff had been present to explain the study. Two participants recommended including family members and other caregivers in the consent process, especially for older adults. One participant indicated difficulty reading through the consent form while another reported desire for more information “on the type of research” that would be conducted on the biospecimens. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that a majority of patients will consent to biospecimen collection, however Black patients are more likely to decline, and provider engagement is helpful. We found that our consent process can be improved with greater physician engagement, inclusion of family members and caregivers, and concise, patient-oriented presentation of information. Future work will involve implementation of interventions based on these findings.

Citation Format: Tina Zhang, Nina Modanlo, David Li, Kiana Mahdaviani, Naomi Ko. A mixed-methods study of minority recruitment for cancer genomics research at a large urban safety net hospital [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-085.