Abstract 5028: The AIDS malignancy clinical trials consortium AMC: Patient navigator PN initiative
Authors: Botello Maria T. , Aboulafia David , Mosby Kimberly , Vena Don ,   The PN Participating Investigators
Published: June 2012

Objective: To provide greater opportunity for minority groups, as well as women to participate in AMC-sponsored HIV/AIDS-cancer trials and to increase awareness in the community about HIV-malignancies.

Background: Cancer remains a major health concern in the management of HIV infection in areas of the world with and without access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (Sasco et al., 2010; Pantanowitz & Dezube, 2009). According to the CDC, approximately 56,000 people were newly infected with HIV in 2006 in the USA (Hall et al., 2008). Fifty-three percent of these new infections occurred in gay and bisexual men. Black/African American men and women and Hispanics were also strongly affected. They are estimated to have an HIV incidence rate 7 fold greater than Caucasians. The AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) supports innovative trials for HIV-infected patients with malignancies. Recruitment of members of these groups into clinical trials has traditionally been poor. Among domestic AMC studies, a relatively small percentage of all participants have included women (8%), African-Americans (29%), and Hispanics (21%). In an effort to bolster opportunities for HIV-infected minorities to become involved in AMC clinical trials, we initiated the Patient Navigator (PN) Program.

Methods: Seven sites implemented a Patient Navigator program. Patient Navigators provide cancer-specific information to the HIV-infected community, meet and screen potential participants, refer patients to relevant AMC clinical trials, and work closely with Community Advisory Boards to better understand their client-specific needs.

Results: During the first six-month implementation of the program, PNs initiated several strategies for increasing the enrollment of women and minorities including community outreach and AMC education and awareness. Overall, 212 activities were reported across all sites in the programmatic areas of recruitment and retention, community outreach and education and awareness. The total average number of activities per site for the entire period was 30. For this period, community outreach received the highest number of activities (47%, n=99), followed by recruitment/retention efforts (35%, n=74) and education and awareness activities 18% (n=39).

Conclusion: A PN-led program is working to increase clinical trial knowledge, participation, and empowerment of all eligible subjects, particularly minority groups and females to participate in AMC trials. The program is making important inroads into community organizations that provide care to HIV- infected patients. An important component of the PN program is to measure the effectiveness of various strategies as we seek to enhance enrollment of minorities and women into AMC-cancer specific clinical trials.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5028. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5028