Abstract
BackgroundClinical trials are critical to scientifically evaluate promising new therapies in oncology, but patient accrual to these studies is persistently low. Patient preference plays an important role in enrollment in these trials. We performed this survey to evaluate the perceptions of newly diagnosed oncology patients about clinical trials and the reasons why they wish to or not to participate in these trials.MethodsPatients were given a ten question survey reflective of their attitudes regarding clinical trials as a treatment option at their initial visit. The self-directed questionnaire was scored on an ordinate scale from strongly agree [1] to strongly disagree [5].ResultsNinety three patients were surveyed in the cancer specific multispecialty clinics in an academic center. Our patients expected their providers to discuss all information relating to clinical trials and eligibility at the first visit (65.4% agree and 15.4% neutral, p < 0.0001). Patients felt their privacy and safety would be safeguarded in the University sponsored trials (56.8% agree, and 25.7% neutral, p < 0.0001). Over 80% patients showed their unwillingness to participate in randomized clinical trials (disagree 61%, neutral 19.5%, p < 0.001). Patients also showed less likelihood to participate in clinical trials as a first treatment option (48.7% disagree and 28.9% neutral, p0.0161), but were willing to consider participating in a clinical trial if the conventional treatment failed. Industry sponsored trials, phase 1 trials, investigator initiated trials with the involved tests and time commitment and altruistic reasons did not significantly deviate from the mean preference analyzed using Fisher's exact test analysis.ConclusionsPatients consider the option of clinical trials as important in their treatment, and expect to be informed by their oncologist about such trials. Newly diagnosed cancer patients perceive randomization and first line trials negatively. Since randomization data provides new standards of care and hope for improved treatment, patients and their families must be educated of their importance.
Highlights
The efficacy of new cancer treatments can only be reasonably confirmed through carefully designed prospective clinical trials
A meta-analysis done in the past has shown that centralized referral or entry into clinical trials was frequently associated with higher survival rate [1]
Over 80% patients wanted their treating physician to inform them about the ongoing clinical trials and their eligibility (51, (65.4%) agree and 12 (15.4%) were neutral), with only 15 (19%) not wanting to know of the trials, making this statistically significant (p < 0.0001)
Summary
The efficacy of new cancer treatments can only be reasonably confirmed through carefully designed prospective clinical trials. Only a few eligible cancer patients are recruited to clinical trials [2e4] This obvious threat to timely completion leads to delays and decreased access to effective treatment plans. Patient preference plays an important role in enrollment in these trials We performed this survey to evaluate the perceptions of newly diagnosed oncology patients about clinical trials and the reasons why they wish to or not to participate in these trials. Results: Ninety three patients were surveyed in the cancer specific multispecialty clinics in an academic center Our patients expected their providers to discuss all information relating to clinical trials and eligibility at the first visit (65.4% agree and 15.4% neutral, p < 0.0001). Over 80% patients showed their unwillingness to participate in randomized clinical trials (disagree 61%, neutral 19.5%, p < 0.001). Since randomization data provides new standards of care and hope for improved treatment, patients and their families must be educated of their importance
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