Abstract 4918: Impact of social drivers of health on clinical trial knowledge among Hispanic/Latino and Black cancer survivors
Authors: Hilmaris Centeno-Girona, Marievelisse Soto-Salgado, Stephanie Cameron-Maldonado, Arnethea L. Sutton, Katherine Y. Tossas, Robert A. Winn, Marcia R. Cruz-Correa
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Introduction: Despite significant advancements in cancer treatment, disparities in clinical trial (CT) participation persist among minority populations, such as Hispanic/Latino (H/L) and Black women (BW). Social drivers of health (SDoH) can influence health outcomes and health care decisions, like CT participation. This study assessed the association between SDoH and CT knowledge among H/L and BW cancer survivors in Puerto Rico and in Virginia, United States. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included H/L gastrointestinal (GI) cancer survivors from Puerto Rico and BW with breast or gynecological cancers from Virginia, aged 21+ years. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire to assess their awareness, knowledge, and participation in cancer-related CTs and SDoH. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CT knowledge and associated factors. As reported in the literature, significant variables (p &amp;lt; 0.05) and other relevant variables were included in the multivariate logistic regression model. Results: As of November 11, 2024, 285 H/L and BW cancer survivors completed the questionnaire. Women accounted for 78% of the sample, and the mean age of study participants was 55 years (SD: 11.8). Over half of the participants (52%) had breast or gynecological cancer, whereas 47% reported GI cancer. While most study participants were aware of CTs (64%) and 80% accurately identified the correct definition, only 26% reported ever participating in a cancer-related CT. Logistic regression models showed that participants with lower educational attainment, those unemployed, and those with another type of transportation rather than their own transportation were significantly more likely to have lower CT knowledge than their counterparts (p&amp;lt;0.05). However, participants who reported an income between $20,000-$74,999 and those who perceived discrimination in medical settings were more likely to have higher CT knowledge than their counterparts (p&amp;lt;0.05). After adjusting for age, sex, educational attainment, employment, and health literacy, participants who reported an income between $20,000-$74,999 (OR: 3.43, 95%CI: 1.39-8.50) and those who perceived at least one type of discrimination in medical settings (OR: 2.44, 95%CI: 1.17-5.09) were more likely to have higher CT knowledge than their counterparts. Conclusion: While CT awareness was relatively high, low CT participation was observed among H/L and BW cancer survivors. Understanding factors that impact CT participation is important for developing targeted interventions to improve CT participation and reduce health disparities among these underserved populations. Acknowledgments: Research supported by an AACR grant, Social Determinants of Health, Grant Number: 23-01-SDoH. Citation Format: Hilmaris Centeno-Girona, Marievelisse Soto-Salgado, Stephanie Cameron-Maldonado, Arnethea L. Sutton, Katherine Y. Tossas, Robert A. Winn, Marcia R. Cruz-Correa. Impact of social drivers of health on clinical trial knowledge among Hispanic/Latino and Black cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4918.