The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60961

S.P. Tu¹, Hueifang Chen, PhD², Jeanette M Lim, MPH³, Anthony L-T Chen, MD⁴, Suepattra May⁵, and Charles W Drescher, MD⁵. (1) Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-731-4236, shinping@u.washington.edu, (2) General Internal Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, 325 9th Ave, Box 359780, Seattle, WA 98104, (3) ICHS NW Office, Harborview Medical Center/University of Washington, P.O. Box 3007, Seattle, WA 98114, (4) International Community Health Services, 7118 M L King Jr. Way S., Seattle, WA 98118, (5) Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave. N., MP-900, PO Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98101-1024

Our study objective was to explore barriers to and facilitators of clinical trials participation among Chinese American women with cancer. Participants were recruited through physicians, community coalition members, and snowball sampling strategy. Semi-structured interviews (Cantonese or Mandarin) were audiotaped, translated into English, transcribed verbatim, and coded independently. We used open coding, axial coding and the constant comparison method for data analysis.

Findings indicate that 84% of our study participants had never heard of clinical trials, knew nothing or very little about clinical trials, with only 16% having some knowledge of clinical trials. Of those who had heard of clinical trials, they were unfamiliar with "randomization," or the process. Participants expressed a lack of understanding of the role of clinical trials in cancer treatment. More than 25% of them believed clinical trials are the last option for patients who have no other hope or other standard treatment available.

Three most commonly cited facilitators of clinical trials participation included not having much suffering in clinical trials, altruistic motivation, and oncologists' recommendation. Concerns about the uncertainties in clinical trials and not wanting to be used as a human guinea pig for testing were the most frequently cited inhibitors.

Findings from this study support the need for education regarding clinical trials for female Chinese American cancer patients.

Learning Objectives:

Learning objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Identify barriers to clinical trial participation among female Chinese Americans with cancer.
• Discuss facilitators to clinical trial participation among female Chinese Americans with cancer.
• Recognize the knowledge and understanding of clinical trials by Chinese American women with cancer.

Keywords: Asian Women, Clinical Trails

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.