Impact of migrancy on cancer clinical trial participation: Factors associated with approach and consent in Australian‐born versus migrant groups

摘要

Abstract Background/Aims This study compared rates of clinical trial participation and perceived adequacy of information provided prior to consent in migrant and Australian‐born cancer patients, and explored factors associated with being approached and agreeing to participate. Methods We utilized data from a larger cross‐sectional survey assessing disparities in patient‐reported outcomes in Chinese, Arabic, or Greek migrant versus English‐speaking Australian‐born cancer patients. Participants completed a questionnaire eliciting demographic and disease details, communication challenges, whether invited and consented to a clinical trial, and if so, adequacy of information received. Results A total of 566 migrants (142 Arabic, 251 Chinese, and 173 Greek) and 270 English‐speaking Australian‐born patients participated. Overall, 25% were approached to participate in clinical trials, and of these, 74% consented. Migrants were significantly less likely to consent if asked to participate in clinical trials ( P = .009), and fewer migrants (67.2%) reported receiving sufficient information prior to deciding on trial participation (82.1%; P = .04). Perceived understanding of the health system (odds ratio [OR] = 0.71), confidence in speaking (OR = 0.75), ability to understand English (OR = 0.80), and communicate with doctors in English (OR = 0.81) were significantly related to patients’ likelihood of being approached to participate in clinical trials. Perceived understanding of the health system (OR = 0.66) was significantly associated with patients agreeing to take part in cancer clinical trials. Conclusions Our findings identified that barriers to migrants’ self‐reported participation in clinical trials include perceived lack of understanding of the health system and low English proficiency. Strategies that address these barriers are needed to increase migrant patients’ participation in cancer clinical trials.