Bringing a humanistic approach to cancer clinical trials

Abstract

In this article, we describe some practical aspects that promote the humanisation of clinical research. Actions are not limited to improving the communication skills of medical staff but also include maintenance of care continuity, accessible written information, and application of theoretic models such as shared decision-making and management of stress in decision-making under uncertainty. We believe that a comprehensive strategy will increase patients’ motivation to participate in and adhere to clinical research.

Developing Care and Compassion in Health Professional Students and Clinicians

“…Humanism is a philosophy that provides such a framework. Humanistic philosophies within health care place emphasis upon the importance of effective communication and advocate for the expectations and values of the person receiving care being a central consideration of health care provision (Arai et al 2017). Embedding humanistic philosophies within the practice of care and compassion requires that respect and value of the dignity of each person requiring health care be foundational to health care (Stein-Parbury 2018;Glass 2010;Kilpatrick 2009).…”

Personalizing Precision Oncology Clinical Trials in Latin America: An Expert Panel on Challenges and Opportunities

“…And patients’ individuality strongly influences, if not determines, treatment decisions. Evidence per se is not enough, and one has to consider how patients envision the outcomes related to current standard of care (SOC) practices (efficacy, quality of life, safety) to make clinical judgments and decisions, including the decision to enroll in a clinical trial . In this aspect, the individualized approach of POTs, with recruitment usually based on biomarkers, is associated with high expectancies of success and lower tolerance of uncertainty for a given study outcome.…”

“…In Brazil, where great emphasis is put on physicians as decision makers, the survival time is more valuable for patients with cancer than for health care professionals, whereas quality of life is more important for heath care professionals than for patients with cancer . Behavioral sciences are examining patients’ attitudes and preferences to understand the engagement in treatment decision making . And patients’ individuality strongly influences, if not determines, treatment decisions.…”

Academic health centers: integration of clinical research with healthcare and education. Comments on a workshop

“…These facts may jeopardize the retention of young faculty members. OCTs may help in providing specialized support in navigating and coordinating clinical research ranging from the administration of contracts and budgets, subject recruitment and retention strategies, and data collection and quality to the care of research subjects 19 , 20 .…”