Clinical Trial Perceptions Among Patients Enrolled in a Precision Oncology Protocol at an Appalachian-Serving Cancer...

Low rates of clinical trial participation, with notable disparities among rural populations, slow cancer treatment advances. Precision oncology protocols are designed to alleviate trial access barriers by consenting patients to sequencing with results matched to national databases of available trials. Precision oncology protocols represent a potential avenue for supporting patient informed trial decision-making before they are offered a specific trial but little is known about clinical trial perceptions and intentions of patients who join such protocols.

We administered surveys to 116 patients with a cancer diagnosis enrolled in a precision oncology protocol at an Appalachia-serving, academic cancer center. Analyses tested associations between clinical trial perceptions (e.g., beliefs, attitudes, knowledge), sociodemographic covariates, and trial intentions.

Participants (mean age = 64.5; median education = high school; 97.4% white; 51.7% female; 60% Appalachian residence) held overall favorable clinical trial perceptions and overall positive intentions. Trial knowledge was significantly lower among participants with lower education, lower income, and those residing in Appalachian counties. Intentions were significantly associated with attitudes, beliefs around trying new treatments, and perceived family support for trial participation in both bivariate and multivariate regression analyses.

This study contributes to the literature by describing clinical trial perceptions among patients in a precision oncology prospective cohort from a cancer center that serves a predominately white, Appalachian population. Addressing patients' perceptions and concerns related to trials and involving family or support networks in the decision making process is likely to be a key element of supporting informed patient decision-making for future trial opportunities.