Are we providing adequate information? patient-specific clinical trial information at NCI-designated cancer center websites.

Abstract

e18602 Background: Disparities persist in the recruitment and enrollment of diverse populations to cancer clinical trials (CT). Barriers to CT participation are numerous and include structural inequities that limit access, stringent eligibility criteria, financial barriers, provider bias, and patient knowledge. While national societies recommend patient educational materials should be written ≤6th grade reading level, most CT online information available is complex. We evaluated the accessibility, readability, and content of patient-specific CT information from NCI-designated cancer center websites (CCW). Methods: We conducted a qualitative review of CT information in 64 clinical NCI CCW. We reviewed each CCW’s patient-specific CT information to evaluate content, reading level, and navigation. Readability was evaluated using validated measures [i.e., Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Grade Level] and an average readability score. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Most CCW made CT information easily accessible, 62 had a CT-specific website of which 61% required only 1-click from the homepage and 5% required ≥3 clicks. Common patient-specific information included definition of CT (89%), CT phases (66%), guidance on how to decide if you should enroll in a CT (59%), risks and benefits of participation (53%), informed consent (48%), and financial considerations (30%). Only 16% of CCW contained CT information for patients with limited or no English proficiency (14% Spanish, 8% Chinese). CT educational content required a reading level of ≥10th grade (Table). 44% of websites included links to outside educational resources, such as the NCI. None of the websites included CT-specific supportive resources (i.e., transportation, navigation, financial assistance, etc.). Most CCW included a CT search bar (77%), yet when searching for a specific cancer type (i.e., breast cancer) 53% yielded a top search result that was disease agnostic or for a different cancer type. 72% included CT descriptions, 58% their eligibility criteria, and 29% included pre-screening forms or links to CT-specific inquiries. Conclusions: Most NCI designated CCW contain CT information at a high literacy level with suboptimal search options and very limited resources/information in other languages. Our findings highlight missed opportunities to develop and advertise CT-specific supportive services and to disseminate CT education materials that meet the literacy and language needs of the increasingly diverse US population.[Table: see text]