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Accrual and retention of diverse patients in psychosocial cancer clinical trials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2022

Grace Ann Hanvey
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Adaixa Padron
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Elizabeth L. Kacel
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Gabriel Cartagena
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Kelsey C. Bacharz
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Christina S. McCrae
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Michael E. Robinson
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Lori B. Waxenberg
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Michael H. Antoni
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
Richard B. Berry
Affiliation:
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Gregory S. Schultz
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Jacqueline Castagno
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Deidre B. Pereira*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
*
Address for correspondence: D. B. Pereira, PhD, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100165, 101 S. Newell Dr., Room 3137, Gainesville, FL 32610-0165, USA. Email: dpereira@phhp.ufl.edu
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Abstract

Background:

Minority and older adult patients remain underrepresented in cancer clinical trials (CCTs). The current study sought to examine sociodemographic inequities in CCT interest, eligibility, enrollment, decline motivation, and attrition across two psychosocial CCTs for gynecologic, gastrointestinal, and thoracic cancers.

Methods:

Patients were approached for recruitment to one of two interventions: (1) a randomized control trial (RCT) examining effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention targeting sleep, pain, mood, cytokines, and cortisol following surgery, or (2) a yoga intervention to determine its feasibility, acceptability, and effects on mitigating distress. Prospective RCT participants were queried about interest and screened for eligibility. All eligible patients across trials were offered enrollment. Patients who declined yoga intervention enrollment provided reasons for decline. Sociodemographic predictors of enrollment decisions and attrition were explored.

Results:

No sociodemographic differences in RCT interest were observed, and older patients were more likely to be ineligible. Eligible Hispanic patients across trials were significantly more likely to enroll than non-Hispanic patients. Sociodemographic factors predicted differences in decline motivation. In one trial, individuals originating from more urban areas were more likely to prematurely discontinue participation.

Discussion:

These results corroborate evidence of no significant differences in CCT interest across minority groups, with older adults less likely to fulfill eligibility criteria. While absolute Hispanic enrollment was modest, Hispanic patients were more likely to enroll relative to non-Hispanic patients. Additional sociodemographic trends were noted in decline motivation and geographical prediction of attrition. Further investigation is necessary to better understand inequities, barriers, and best recruitment practices for representative CCTs.

Information

Type
Research Article
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Association for Clinical and Translational Science
Figure 0

Table 1.Study aims, outcomes, and data sources

Figure 1

Table 2.Chi-square analyses across trial accrual outcomes

Figure 2

Table 3.Predictors of attrition in Trial 1 (CBTi.p trial) (outcome 5) (N = 64)

Figure 3

Table 4.Predictors of attrition in Trial 2 (yoga trial) (outcome 5) (N = 95)