MA22.01 Lung Cancer Patients’ Unique Values and Preferences Lead to Clinical Trial Preferences

Abstract

Only about 5% of cancer patients participate in clinical trials. We previously conducted a survey of U.S. lung cancer patients and found that only 22% reported discussing clinical trials with their oncologist at the time of making treatment decisions. We hypothesize these low rates of trial discussion and participation may be due in part to current clinical trial designs not reflecting unique values and preferences of lung cancer patients that differ from other non-cancer conditions. Utilizing an online survey inquiring about clinical trial attitudes of patients with several different clinical diagnoses in the United States, we chose to compare a group of lung cancer patients (LC group) to patients diagnosed with a non-cancerous condition (chronic allergies or asthma) (AA group). 229 participants in the LC group and 367 in the AA group were asked to indicate the personal impact of several information sources for finding out about clinical trials and several potential motivators for clinical trial participation. The LC group reported the doctor’s office as their main information source for clinical trials, while the AA group indicated advertisements as their primary source for finding out about trials. In terms of motivation to join trials, 60% of the LC group said having their doctor’s support for joining a given trial was very important to them (only 33% of the AA group said so). Being paid for participation was reported as being motivating by 69% of the AA group versus only 23% of the LC group. When asked about what they valued when looking for a clinical trial, the LC group said extending quality and length of life and receiving access to otherwise unavailable therapy options were very important. The AA group placed much less importance on these same values. We should consider the unique ways lung cancer patients seek information and what they value when designing a strategy to recruit to or educate about a clinical trial. Effective, tailored strategies may include increasing the use of providers as primary trial educators and focusing outreach surrounding trials on lung cancer patient motivators that differ from those with other diagnoses.