Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Less than five percent of oncology clinical trial participants are Black. We sought to investigate differences in reason for trial enrollment, trial experience, and trial importance by race.
Methods This prospective study was at a Minority and Underserved Community Oncology Research site where minorities are over 30% of trial enrollments. We interviewed thirty gynecologic cancer patients enrolled on Phase I-III trials about their reason for enrollment, trial experience, and trial importance. Interviews were thematically analyzed by three trained staff with comparison between White and Black patients.
Results We interviewed 14 Black and 16 White patients. Among Black patients, the most common theme referenced for trial enrollment, experience, and importance were better chance at cure (n = 6), positive trial experience (n = 15), and improving the future (n = 6), respectively. The most common themes referenced among White patients were helping others (n = 8), caring and personable interactions (n = 22), and improving the future (n = 9), respectively. Cluster analysis of identified themes revealed that themes tended to align along racial lines indicating a shared experience among Black women on trial figure 1. When asking minority patients what facilitated trial participation at our site, the top three themes were community outreach, perceived equity, and diversity in our patient population and staff.
Conclusion/Implications Our results indicate that Black patients report a positive clinical trial experience and appeared to have a shared trial experience. Minority patients voiced perceived equity and community outreach being key to facilitators of enrollment on trials.