Knowledge and attitudes regarding clinical trials and willingness to participate among prostate cancer patients

Abstract

BackgroundEnrollment of minorities in clinical trials remains low. Through a California population-based study of men with early stage prostate cancer, we examined the relationships between race/ethnicity and 1) attitudes, 2) knowledge and 3) willingness to participate in clinical trials. MethodsFrom November 2011–November 2012, we identified all incident cases of prostate cancer in African American, Latino, and Asian American men ages 18–75years, and a random sample of white men diagnosed in 2008, through the California Cancer Registry, living within 60 miles of a site offering ≥1 clinical trial. Participants completed a 30-min telephone interview in English, Spanish, or Chinese. In this cross-sectional population-based study, multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations between race/ethnicity and 1) attitudes, 2) knowledge and 3) willingness to participate. ResultsOf 855 participants, 52% were ≥65years, 42% were white, 24% Latino, 19% African American and 15% Asian American. The majority (81%) had medium-to-high health literacy. Compared to non-Latino white men, African American men were less likely to have above average knowledge of clinical trials (OR=0.55; CI=0.35–0.86), as were Asian American (OR=0.55; CI=0.33–0.93) and Latino men (OR=0.30; CI=0.18–0.48). There were no racial/ethnic differences in willingness to participate. The attitude that “researchers are the main beneficiaries” was negatively associated with willingness (OR=0.63; CI=0.43–0.93); the attitude that “patients are the main beneficiaries” was positively associated with willingness to participate (OR=1.57; CI=1.07–2.29). ConclusionsMen with early stage prostate cancer are willing to take part in clinical trials and this willingness does not vary by race/ethnicity.