Testing targeted approaches to enhance Cancer Genetics Network minority recruitment within Asian populations

Asian Americans have been underrepresented in cancer research. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multiple arm recruitment approach in improving Asian recruitment into the Cancer Genetics Network (CGN).

1,096 potential participants, identified through cancer registries located at University of California, Irvine (UCI) and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), were randomly assigned to receive one of four recruitment approaches.

A 6.2% gain in Asian participation into the CGN was achieved over a 2-year period at FHCRC and UCI, which contributed a 2% CGN-wide increase in overall Asian enrollment. Site-specific differences in recruitment success by study arm were observed.

Novel recruitment approaches can assist in improving recruitment of Asian populations into cancer genetic research studies.