Abstract 5522: Does physician-patient language concordance increase clinical trial enrollment in breast cancer patients?: A real-life study in a majority-minority population
Authors: Portillo Daniela Urueta , Sanchez Ana M. Mendoza , Quilantan Nitzia E. , Sanchez Lisa Maria Mendoza , Canola Marcela Mazo , Gelfond Jonathan , Peguero Julio A. 
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Clinical trial accrual and enrollment are essential to break disparities seen in minority populations affected by cancer. Despite Hispanics (HI) being 18.9% of the US population and the fastest-growing minority in the US, they only represent 4% of the patients enrolled in clinical trials. These disparities are often explained by different social determinants of health, but could also be due to decreased perceived interest by oncologists in their participation simply due to lack of English proficiency. Effective doctor-patient communication is vital in establishing a healthy doctor-patient relationship, and is vital in delivering high-quality health care. In this study, we explore whether physician-patient language concordance affects clinical trial enrollment.

Methods: We evaluated 233 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who consented to experimental clinical trials in a private Oncology practice in Houston, Texas, from 2008-2022. All trials had approved consent in English and Spanish. We used logistic regression to model the probability of treatment, while adjusting for the effects of cancer type, gender, race, ethnicity, and language concordance.

Results: Of the 233 patients with breast cancer, 191(82%) were enrolled in a clinical trial, and 96% of these patients spoke the same language as their providers. 42 patients were not enrolled, with 95% of patients speaking the same language as their provider. There were 209 (90%) patients who spoke English, 22 (9%) were Spanish speakers and 2 (1%) were Arabic speakers. Of the Spanish speakers, 18 were enrolled, with 13 (72%) having language concordance with their provider. The ethnicity was evaluated, resulting in 72 (31%) patients being Hispanics, 55 (24%) African American, 94 (40%) Caucasian, 7 (3%) Asian, 4 (2%) Middle Eastern and 1 (0.4%) American Indian. It also evaluated the rate of consent withdrawal, showing only 6 (3%) patients. After evaluating the results, it was noted that there was no statistically significant association of physician-patient language concordance with enrollment rate (p=0.776). There was also no significant difference in consent withdrawal (p=0.626), and no change associated with gender (p=0.344) or ethnicity when evaluated (p=0.13).

Conclusion: In conclusion, our analysis confirms no significant difference in breast cancer patients’ enrollment in clinical trials if there is language concordance between physician and patient. The efforts of the medical workforce to use translators and translated versions of informed consents, surveys or outcome assessments, when available, seem enough for our patients to agree to continue enrollment.

Citation Format: Daniela Urueta Portillo, Ana M. Mendoza Sanchez, Nitzia E. Quilantan, Lisa Maria Mendoza Sanchez, Marcela Mazo Canola, Jonathan Gelfond, Julio A. Peguero. Does physician-patient language concordance increase clinical trial enrollment in breast cancer patients?: A real-life study in a majority-minority population. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 5522.