Abstract 4824: Multi-level intervention to increase minority cancer patient enrollment to clinical treatment trials- Study design considerations and baseline characteristics from the ACTWONDER2S Study
Authors: Rollison Dana E. , Amorrortu Rossybelle P. , Fuzzell Lindsay N. , Garcia Melany A. , Tapia-Kwan Elliott S. , Zhao Yayi , Eschrich Steven A. , Gore Bob R. , Mittman Brian S. , Stanley Nathanael B. , Vadaparampil Susan T. 
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Black/African American (AA) and Hispanic cancer patients are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials (CCTs). Disparities stem from multiple factors, thus, comprehensive, multi-level interventions (MLI) are needed. Presented here is a conceptual framework for selecting the appropriate study design for MLIs using ACTWONDER2S, a multi-level intervention (MLI) aimed to increase Black/AA and Hispanic patient participation into CCTs, as an illustrative example. Baseline characteristics of the ACTWONDER2S target populations are also provided.

Methods: ACTWONDER2S integrates community health educator and digital tools into an MLI targeting community residents and physicians in the Moffitt Cancer Center (MCC) catchment area, as well as MCC patients, physicians and CCT coordinators. A literature review of the relative strengths and weakness of 5 candidate designs for MLIs was conducted, and a cluster stratified randomized design was selected. Geospatial analytics were used to identify clusters of census tracts (“priority zones”) with high Black/AA and Hispanic populations for intervention deployment. Baseline characteristics of the priority zones were described using US Census data and other sources.

Results: 14 priority zones were identified, which were matched on population characteristics and randomized into intervention (n=7) and control (n=7) zones. There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control priority zones in total population size (paired t-test p-value=0.63), proportions of Black/AA (p=0.133) and Hispanic populations p=0.17), and distance (in miles) from MCC (p=0.64). Approximately 35.8% and 16.5% of the intervention priority zones were Hispanic or Black/AA, respectively. Average distance to MCC, cancer cases, referral and CCT enrollment rates were also similar between groups.

Conclusion: Decision frameworks for MLI study design selection are lacking. The framework provided here for ACTWONDER2S can be applied to other studies seeking to evaluate MLIs. Furthermore, the randomization of the priority zones produced optimal target populations for testing the efficacy of the MIL within ACTWONDER2S.

Citation Format: Dana E. Rollison, Rossybelle P. Amorrortu, Lindsay N. Fuzzell, Melany A. Garcia, Elliott S. Tapia-Kwan, Yayi Zhao, Steven A. Eschrich, Bob R. Gore, Brian S. Mittman, Nathanael B. Stanley, Susan T. Vadaparampil. Multi-level intervention to increase minority cancer patient enrollment to clinical treatment trials- Study design considerations and baseline characteristics from the ACTWONDER2S Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4824.