Clinical Trials Awareness Month -
Main Points for Articles
The following bullets are ideas
you may consider using if you are developing an article for Clinical
Trials Awareness Month. These points may be useful in writing articles
for the general public, patients, or health professionals.
Health care professionals have unique opportunities to share information
with the clients they serve. Throughout the year, it is important
to discuss the benefits of cancer clinical trials with patients,
and the February observation of Clinical Trials Awareness Month serves as a reminder
to do so.
February is Clinical Trials Awareness Month in the
Michigan Cancer Consortium Initiative.
Major advancements in cancer prevention and clinical
treatment invariably are the result of clinical research.
Clinical trials provide the mechanism to transfer
knowledge and innovations from the laboratory bench to the bedside,
compare current treatment options, and promote excellence in the practice
of oncology.
Although the benefits of clinical research have been
documented and promoted for years, the participant enrollment statistics
for these trials continue to be very low.
It is estimated that only 2 percent to 3 percent
of cancer patients are recruited to participate in treatment clinical
trials.
Physician biases may be the most important factor
in determining whether a patient enters a clinical trial.
Another major obstacle to recruitment is providers’ fear of losing patients once they join a clinical trial.
Eligible patients may refuse to participate in trial
studies. Patients and their families typically do not understand the
nature of clinical trials and the randomization process.
Other barriers to clinical trial utilization include
a lengthy, complex informed consent process and third-party payer
reimbursement issues.
Despite efforts by the National Cancer Institute
and national patient advocacy groups to increase awareness of clinical
trials as possibly the best treatment option for a patient, the proportion
of cancer patients who participate in trials still remains extremely
low.
The Michigan Cancer Consortium has developed a strategic
action plan focused on six major areas that influence participation
in clinical trials:
Physician/provider bias
Trial design
Patient/public attitudes
Access to trials
Minority issues
Coverage issues
The plan includes strategies and initiatives designed
to encourage partnerships among all segments of the community that
have a vested interest in better cancer outcomes.
For more information about becoming involved in
the Michigan Cancer Consortium’s effort to improve clinical trial
recruitment, call us (toll-free) at 877-588-MCCI or e-mail us at .
