Promoting Racial Justice in Cancer Clinical Trials: Community Engaged Solutions for Bridging Gaps

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Equity
• Clinical Trials Research

Background:

• Racial and ethnic minorities face higher cancer burdens and mortality rates.
• Underrepresentation in clinical trials leads to safety and efficacy data not applicable to diverse populations.
• Current cancer care guidelines may not adequately reflect the needs of all patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore healthcare experiences of racial and ethnic minority groups.
• To understand perceptions of cancer clinical trials within these communities.
• To identify solutions for improving representation in cancer research.

Main Methods:

• Conducted five focus groups with 23 cancer survivors and caregivers from minority communities.
• Explored perspectives on cancer care, research, and clinical trial participation.
• Gathered insights on recruitment strategies and messaging for diverse populations.

Main Results:

• Participants showed high motivation to join cancer trials, desiring enhanced outreach and education.
• Experiences of inequity and power dynamics in healthcare were identified as barriers.
• Trust-building at multiple levels emerged as crucial for participation.
• Concepts of 'just care' were highlighted as a model for improving access.

Conclusions:

• People of color are motivated to participate in cancer clinical trials.
• Trust is fundamental to increasing research participation among minority groups.
• Concrete strategies are proposed to promote racial justice and equity in cancer clinical trials.