Abstract
Many racial and ethnic minority patients with cancer face barriers related to access to health care and information. Patient navigators, say the authors, could help to overcome these barriers.
Highlights
Cancer incidence and death rates for all cancers combined decreased from 1991 through 2001 [1]
A recent PLoS Medicine study found that minority patients were less likely to be invited to participate in trials, and that when minority patients were informed of trials and invited to join, they were just as willing to participate as non-minority patients [5]
One potential strategy to directly improve access to healthcare information and opportunities to participate in clinical trials among minority and other underserved populations is through the use of patient navigators
Summary
Cancer incidence and death rates for all cancers combined decreased from 1991 through 2001 [1] When these data are examined by race/ethnicity or socioeconomic status, significant differences emerge. Whereas many questions remain as to what causes cancer health disparities, the 2001 President’s Cancer Panel report clearly documents that many racial and ethnic minorities as well as other underserved populations face a number of barriers related to access to health care and information [3]. The authors of the study concluded that efforts should be made to provide better access for minority patients in clinical trials by addressing. One potential strategy to directly improve access to healthcare information and opportunities to participate in clinical trials among minority and other underserved populations is through the use of patient navigators. We describe one of NCI’s initiatives on patient navigation and its potential role in reducing cancer health disparities
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