Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111018

Amelie Ramirez, DrPH¹, Kipling J. Gallion, MA², Patricia Chalela, MPH², Sandra San Miguel, MPH², Bradley Pollock, PhD³, and Chris H. Takimoto, MD, PhD⁴. (1) Center for Cancer Control Research, Baylor College of Medicine, 8207 Callaghan Road, San Antonio, TX 78230, 210-348-0255, aramirez@bcm.tmc.edu, (2) Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center, Dept. of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 8207 Callaghan, #110, San Antonio, TX 78230, (3) Center for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., CTRC U470, San Antonio, TX 78229, (4) Cancer Theraphy and Research Center, Director of Pharmacokinetics, 7979 Wurzbach Rd, Rm. z415, San Antonio, TX 78229

Advances in cancer treatment require participation in early phase clinical trials (EPCT), especially among minorities. This study is collecting patient and healthcare provider data that will lead to the development of an intervention for local oncologists and Hispanic cancer patients to increase EPCT participation. A social assessment phase included focus groups with cancer patients and surveys with oncologists. In January 2004, all medical oncologists registered in the Texas Medical Association (N=367) received a 100-item survey producing a 30% (n=108) response rate. Content included demographics, socio-cultural issues (i.e., language, perceived cultural competency, doctor/patient communication, cultural norms and informed decision-making, cultural effects on interest and compliance with trial), and structural/environmental barriers (i.e., reimbursement, provider administrative costs procedures, and time management, research institution barriers, and threats to physician autonomy/control over current and future patient care). Most respondents were white (71%), male (79%), in private practice (64%) for over 15 years (75%). Almost 90% had referred a patient to a clinical trial in the past year, and most felt that EPCT participation was good for the patient although a number of barriers exist for both the oncologist and the patient. Overall, the presentation will review the scope and impact of the different barriers noted by oncologists as well as contrasting those results with patient focus group data. Session attendees will gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by patients and oncologists who refer EPCT clients as well as proposed intervention strategies for increasing EPCT participation by Hispanic patients and their oncologists.

Learning Objectives: