Behind the Numbers: Cancer Survivor Recruitment by Demographics and Clinical Status.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Trials
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Recruiting cancer survivors into research studies involves multiple sequential steps.
• These recruitment steps can present varying levels of difficulty for different survivor populations.
• Understanding these challenges is crucial for improving trial diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of cancer survivors relate to their progression through recruitment stages.
• To identify factors influencing participation in the Adapting MultiPLe behavior Interventions that eFfectively Improve (AMPLIFI) Cancer Survivor Health trial.
• To inform strategies for enhancing diversity in clinical trial recruitment.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 23,270 cancer survivors from population-based and hospital registries were invited to the AMPLIFI trial.
• The study tracked progression through four recruitment steps: being reached, screened for eligibility, deemed eligible, and consented.
• Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used to assess associations between survivor characteristics and recruitment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Recruitment success varied significantly by survivor characteristics at each step.
• Being female, older (65+), African American, and diagnosed <2 years prior were associated with higher reach and screening.
• African American survivors and those from disadvantaged areas were less likely to consent, highlighting participation barriers.

Conclusions:

• Survivor characteristics differentially impact progression through clinical trial recruitment steps.
• Opportunities exist to develop tailored recruitment strategies to enhance diversity.
• Addressing disparities in recruitment is essential for equitable clinical trial participation and generalizable findings.