University of Maryland School of Medicine

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University of Maryland School of Medicine Public
Health Institute Robert L. Comis, MD November
15, 2005 Baltimore, MD
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STUDY AIM To document current levels of
awareness, understanding, and attitude towards
cancer clinical trials and to suggest the
implications of these findings for improved
communication and enrollment of adults into
cancer clinical trials.

• Designed and analyzed by the Center for
  Biomedical Communication at Northwestern
  University and conducted online by Knowledge
  Networks
• Under direction of Jon D. Miller, PhD
• 1,027 adults without a diagnosis of cancer
• 1,788 cancer survivors

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Top Line OverviewPublic Awareness Attitudes

• Public is becoming more self-reliant
• Two-thirds aware of cancer clinical trials
• Strong willingness to participate or consider
• One-quarter understands the need for research
  comparators
• 40 dont know or understand important terms

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Attitude toward Physician Direction and
Independent Information Seeking
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Understanding of Terms
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Exposure to Information
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Exposure to Information
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Five Most Trusted Information Sources
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Willingness to participate in a trial for initial
treatment
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Public Attitude toward a Cancer Clinical Trial
for Initial Treatment, 2005
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Top Line OverviewSurvivor Awareness Attitudes

• Awareness varies by disease
• BreastRenalLymphomaProstateLung
• Awareness is dependent on medical situation
• Satisfaction remains high
• Physician involvement is critical

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2005 study indicates that physicians are the key
to patient enrollment in cancer clinical trials.

• When a patients doctor encourages enrollment in
  a clinical trial, more than 90 of patients try
  to enroll
• When a patients doctor makes an effort to
  educate the patient about the pros and cons of a
  cancer clinical trial, 73 of patients try to
  enroll
• When a patients doctor helps locate an
  appropriate trial for the patient, 89 of
  patients try to enroll

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The influence of physicians on patient
enrollment, combined in a summary index.
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As appeared in
Brought to you by the Coalition of Cancer
Cooperative Groups
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NOP World Effectiveness of Knowledge is
PowerSection in Newsweek Magazine
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Readership
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What Did the Overall Message Communicate About
Cancer?
Percent
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Half Already Aware
Percent
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All Noters Not Aware Stated They Now Feel
Positive Toward Cancer Clinical Trials As a
Result of This Section
Percent
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More Than Half Likely to Talk With Their Doctor


Percent
90 confidence level.
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2000 Harris Survey Over-Sample Data
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Importance of Societal Commitment
Differences significant at 0.05 level.
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Willingness to Participate in Cancer Clinical
Trials
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Beliefs About Cancer Patients Who Participate in
Cancer Clinical Trials
Differences significant at 0.05 level.
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Recent Collaborations

• Summit Series on Cancer Clinical Trials
• ASCO Clinical Trials Participation Awards to
  Practices with Strong Minority Recruitment
• GAP Coalition National Accrual Study
• Breast Cancer Research Fdn. Access for minority
  breast cancer patients

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Underserved Populations Initiative
eastern cooperative oncology group
Edith Mitchell, MD
Future Plans 2004-2010
National Medical Association (NMA) Advisory Board
Goals

• Comprised of NMA leadership
• Meets every six months
• Advises ECOG leadership
• Barriers to enrollment
• Prevention studies
• Therapeutic studies
• ECOG presentations at yearly NMA meeting
• Clinical trials
• Informatics
• Co-sponsor of symposia at 2002 and 2003 NMA
  Annual Meeting

• Emphasize barriers to therapeutic accrual
• Revisit NMA chapters
• Oakland, CA Indianapolis, IN Philadelphia, PA
  Baltimore, MD
• Continue NMA Advisory Board/yearly NMA meeting
  participation
• Expand participation with Special Populations
  Network
• Expand minority CCOP and main member
  participation
• Cook County Minority CCOP
• Grady Memorial Hospital (Emory University)
• Our Lady of Mercy CCOP (New York City)
• San Juan Minority CCOP
• Vanderbilt University
• Meharry Medical College

• To address accrual barriers
• Prevention
• Treatment
• To engage African American physicians
• To work with the National Medical Association
  (NMA) in developing strategies to address accrual
  barriers

ECOG Star Trial Participation NMA Region
II/Special Populations Network (TJU)
African-American Women CAN Beat Breast Cancer
Materials Developed to Assist With Recruitment
Efforts

• Professional video developed by ECOG, NMA Region
  II, and Special Populations Network (Thomas
  Jefferson University)
• Received a 2001 AEGIS AWARD for outstanding video
  productions and a Bronze Telly, one of the most
  sought-after awards in the TV, commercial, and
  video industry
• Hosted by prominent African-American TV
  personality, Renee Chenault- Fattah

• 9 Primary care practices
• 1,000 patients screened
• Positive experiences
• Clinical trials education
• Increased breast cancer awareness
• Challenges
• Low accrual
• Concerns over toxicity

Develop Prostate Cancer Awareness Program

• Patient brochure
• Newsletter for potential referring physicians

• Build on breast cancer experience
• Recruit prominent African-American personalities
• Develop messages directed toward prevention and
  treatment trials
• Produce video and print materials

• Distribution
• Well accepted by professional and lay audiences
• Shown on major channel during breast cancer
  prevention program
• More than 20,000 copies distributed
• In STAR physician offices
• By individual call-ins resulting from TV and
  radio shows
• At public cancer prevention meetings
• At professional conferences

Develop Colorectal Cancer Awareness Program

• Build on breast cancer experience
• Recruit prominent African-American personalities
• Develop messages directed toward screening and
  prevention and treatment trials
• Produce video and print materials