Randomized trial of a web-based intervention to address barriers to clinical trials

Neal J. Meropol*, Yu Ning Wong, Terrance Albrecht, Sharon Manne, Suzanne M. Miller, Anne Lederman Flamm, Al Bowen Benson, Joanne Buzaglo, Michael Collins, Brian Egleston, Linda Fleisher, Michael Katz, Tyler G. Kinzy, Tasnuva M. Liu, Seunghee Margevicius, Dawn M. Miller, David Poole, Nancy Roach, Eric Ross, Mark D. Schluchter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Lack of knowledge and negative attitudes have been identified as barriers to participation in clinical trials by patients with cancer.Wedeveloped Preparatory Education About Clinical Trials (PRE-ACT), a theory-guided, Web-based, interactive computer program, to deliver tailored video educational content to patients in an effort to overcome barriers to considering clinical trials as a treatment option. Patients and Methods: A prospective, randomized clinical trial compared PRE-ACT with a control condition that provided general clinical trials information produced by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in text format. One thousand two hundred fifty-five patients with cancer were randomly allocated before their initial visit with an oncologist to PRE-ACT (n = 623) or control (n = 632). PRE-ACT had three main components: assessment of clinical trials knowledge and attitudinal barriers, values assessment with clarification back to patients, and provision of a video library tailored to address each patient's barriers. Outcomes included knowledge and attitudes and preparation for decision making about clinical trials. Results: Both PRE-ACT and control interventions improved knowledge and attitudes (all P < .001) compared with baseline. Patients randomly allocated to PRE-ACT showed a significantly greater increase in knowledge (P < .001) and a significantly greater decrease in attitudinal barriers (P < .001) than did their control (text-only) counterparts. Participants in both arms significantly increased their preparedness to consider clinical trials (P < .001), and there was a trend favoring the PRE-ACT group (P < .09). PRE-ACT was also associated with greater patient satisfaction than was NCI text alone. Conclusion: These data show that patient education before the first oncologist visit improves knowledge, attitudes, and preparation for decision making about clinical trials. Both text and tailored video were effective. The PRE-ACT interactive video program was more effective than NCI text in improving knowledge and reducing attitudinal barriers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)469-478
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology
Volume34
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 10 2016

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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