Abstract
Include Me; I Want to Live!
We know the barrier to minorities entering clinical trials: knowledge of trials, location of participating researchers, and general understanding of clinical trials. The task before us is how to overcome these barriers to increase enrollment.
Objective:
Find a link to increase enrollment of minorities in clinical trials, while observing and respecting the culture, family values, and religious beliefs of clients.
Working Task:
Interviews with researchers, IRB Boards, staff, advocates and patients. This is not a scientific report, but a personal review of cancer answers and questions; why?, what?, and how?. Collectively, we have to agree it's not working (increased enrollment). We have the tools, and the information to build upon (from programs that work), but yet, we do not have overall increase in enrollment.
Plans for enhancing our knowledge level:
1. Focus groups,
2. Health Fair
3. Community Leader Sessions
4. Dinners, to name a few.
We have to realize the need for thinking outside the box, and acting upon a different course of action. A major concern is continuation, the changes needed are not a one shot deal, but repetition, a new way. We have community workers, but are we using them in the cancer world. Are biggest barrier remains fear.
A set of questions will examine the known barriers and fears with an honest attempt to design new methods to bring about change.
Questions:
1. Do you know about clinical trials?
2. Do you trust the findings of clinical trials?
3. What would allow you to enter in a clinical trial?
4. Why would you place a patient in a trial/why not?
5. What would I have to do for your comfort level involving clinical trials.
This session/report is not to reveal a definite answer, regarding minorities and clinical trials, but looking for a crossover link to enhance a meaningful enrollment method.
Citation Format: Bettye L. Green. Include Me; I Want to Live!. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr IA33.