Responses to a Theoretically Adapted Clinical Trial Education Session: Faith-Based Sites Versus Rural Work Site Dissemination

Abstract

The process for advancing biomedical knowledge depends upon recruiting an adequate and representative sample of individuals to voluntarily participate in research studies. A consistent personal barrier to cancer clinical trial participation is the lack of awareness and understanding related to trial availability, and the prevention and treatment roles participation represents. In particular, comprehensive community-based approaches to recruit and educate rural residents are needed. Moreover, consistent under representation of priority populations should be addressed with innovative outreach to collaborate in identifying culturally meaningful approaches. A theoretically adapted version of a component of the National Cancer Institute's "Clinical Trial Education Series" was assessed via educational sessions delivered through work sites and churches. From eight focus groups with 90 participants, we found that church leaders, congregants, and community members were receptive to education on cancer research, increased their short-term knowledge about it, and intent to participate in cancer studies, decreased their current anxiety about clinical trials participation, and provided specific suggestions for further adapting the educational session to be even more culturally relevant. These outcomes provide evidence to support the effectiveness of future customized recruitment strategies embedded within a community or faith-based environment that may increase knowledge, decrease anxiety and intent to actual participation in cancer studies, as well as impact study representativeness and address causes of health disparities.

Clinical trials involving cats

“…In fact, for human clinical trials, recruitment efforts are thought to be more effective at the community, rather than the physician, level. 25 The area surrounding the four hospitals involved in this study is a research-intensive area, and respondents could be biased by this fact. However, we feel the results are valuable as the hospitals involved in the present study represent our catchment area for clinical research, and are likely similar to other research institutions where clinical trials with cats are performed.…”

Barriers and enablers to cancer clinical trial participation and initiatives to improve opportunities for rural cancer patients: A scoping review

“…Forty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria 35–82 (Figure 1). Study characteristics are summarised in Table 1.…”

“…This initiative significantly increased clinical trial knowledge, reduced anxiety associated with participation and increased intention to recommend a clinical trial across all groups. 36…”

“…Quantitative 38,40,41,43,52,54,62,64,65,68,70,71,[74][75][76][77][78]81,82 19 (40) Qualitative 37,[44][45][46]51,53,[55][56][57][58][59]69 12 (25) Commentary/report 35,60,61,72,73,79,80 7(15) Mixed methods 36,39,50,63,67 5 (10) Randomised control trial a 1 (2) Nonrandomised control trial 66 1 (2) Case study 42 1 (2)…”

“…Rural 35,37,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48]51,[54][55][56]58,62,[66][67][68][71][72][73]78,79,81 25 (52) Rural and urban 36,[38][39][40]46,49,50,52,53,57,[59][60][61][63][64][65]69,70,[74][75][76][77]79,82 23 (48) Sample size (n)…”