Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026

E-Patient Counseling Trial E-PACO: Computer Based Education versus Nurse Counseling for Patients to Prepare for Colonoscopy
Published on: August 1, 2019
Assessing the Content and Quality of Online Patient Education Material on Clinical Trials From NCI-Designated
Trista A Beard1, Diana L Morales1, Alena Arshaid1
11Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Background:
Online patient educational material (PEM) on cancer clinical trials (CCTs) is an essential resource for patients seeking to learn more about treatment options. Assessing its quality and content themes may lead to improved educational content. Using qualitative analysis, this study examined the quality and content themes of online PEM related to CCTs published by comprehensive cancer centers (CCCs).
Methods:
A random sample of CCCs (N=21) was chosen to represent the national network of cancer centers. Each website was searched for webpages containing patient-oriented clinical trial information. Official YouTube channels were also searched for relevant video material. Each webpage and video (n=196) was assessed for quality and content themes.
Results:
Common content themes in the sample (n=196) of online PEM from CCCs were "purpose of trials," "physician speaker," "animated or illustrated elements," and "phases of trials." Online PEM had an average score of 83 for understandability and 26 for actionability, an area noted for improvement (high quality scores for the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool [PEMAT] are >70). Online webpages that mixed text and video scored highest on the quality assessment, whereas video-only content scored lowest. Only a small percentage of PEM included FAQs (10%), instructions on how to find a trial (16%), mentioned consent (14%), or costs associated with trials (12%). Mentions or depictions of minority populations were not commonly observed in the material (11%).
Conclusions:
Cancer centers should add various audiovisual formats and patient-centered resource tools (eg, planning kit, question guide) to their clinical trial webpages to increase the quality of the educational resources. Including representation of historically underserved populations and adding actionable advice can potentially engage and empower patients to consider trials as part of their care plan, and thereby increase enrollment in CCTs.
Related Concept Videos
Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Clinical Trials: Overview
Patient-centered Care
Statistical Software for Data Analysis and Clinical Trials
Stereotype Content Model
Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients

