Related Experiment Videos

A population-based assessment of specialty physician involvement in cancer clinical trials

Carrie N Klabunde1, Nancy L Keating, Arnold L Potosky

  • 1Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-7344, USA. Klabundc@mail.nih.gov

Journal of the National Cancer Institute
|February 15, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Physician involvement in cancer clinical trials varies by specialty, with oncologists more engaged than surgeons. Practice environment factors, like affiliation with cancer centers, influence physician participation in clinical trials.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Clinical Research
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Clinical trials are essential for advancing cancer therapies.
  • Physician participation is key to increasing patient enrollment in clinical trials.
  • Understanding physician characteristics associated with trial involvement is crucial for improving research participation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine characteristics of specialty physicians involved in clinical trials.
  • To identify factors associated with physicians who enroll or refer patients to trials.
  • To understand the types of trials physicians participate in.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 1533 specialty physicians (medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons) from the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium.
  • Survey data collected during 2005-2006 with a 61.0% response rate.
  • Descriptive statistics and regression models used to assess associations between physician characteristics and trial participation.

Main Results:

  • Medical oncologists (87.8%) and radiation oncologists (66.1%) reported higher rates of patient referral/enrollment in clinical trials compared to surgeons (35.0%).
  • Physician specialty, teaching involvement, and affiliation with Community Clinical Oncology Programs (CCOP) or National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers were associated with greater trial participation.
  • Approximately two-thirds of physicians affiliated with CCOPs or cancer centers reported trial participation.

Conclusions:

  • Physician practice environment characteristics significantly influence participation in cancer clinical trials.
  • Despite affiliations with research centers, a notable proportion of physicians do not actively participate in trials.
  • Strategies to enhance physician engagement in clinical trials are needed, particularly among surgeons and those not affiliated with major cancer programs.

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
Cancer Survival Analysis01:21

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...