Related Experiment Videos
Primary care physicians' attitudes, knowledge, and practices related to cancer clinical trials
1Office of Education and Special Initiatives, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Background:
Participation of patients in cancer clinical trials is disappointingly low and several physician-based factors are thought to be responsible.
Methods:
In 1998-1999, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted a probability survey of three primary care physician groups to gain a better understanding of the barriers to clinical-trial patient accrual from their perspective.
Results:
Findings from this survey of 706 primary care physicians indicate that the vast majority (98%) refer their patients with cancer to a specialist for cancer treatment and rarely bring up the topic of cancer clinical trials. Frequently cited reasons for not mentioning clinical trials are preferring to leave that discussion to the oncologist (41%) and being unaware of any clinical trials that may be available for the patient (37%).
Conclusion:
Primary care physicians may represent an important untapped resource for introducing the concept of clinical trials as an option to newly diagnosed cancer patients.
Insights
Primary care physicians rarely discuss cancer clinical trials, often deferring to oncologists or lacking awareness of available options. Engaging them could improve patient access to crucial cancer research opportunities.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Clinical Research
- Primary Care Medicine
Background:
- Patient participation in cancer clinical trials remains low.
- Physician-related factors are identified as significant barriers to trial accrual.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate primary care physicians' perspectives on barriers to cancer clinical trial accrual.
- To understand why primary care physicians do not discuss clinical trials with cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- A probability survey was conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
- The survey included 706 primary care physicians from three groups between 1998-1999.
Main Results:
- 98% of surveyed physicians refer cancer patients to specialists.
- Physicians rarely discuss clinical trials, citing oncologist preference (41%) and lack of awareness (37%).
Conclusions:
- Primary care physicians are an underutilized resource for cancer clinical trial referrals.
- Educating primary care physicians about available trials may increase patient enrollment.