Facilitating accrual to cancer control and supportive care trials: the clinical research associate perspective

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Lillian Sung⁴  Susan Stork²  David Freyer³  Katherine Patterson Kelly¹  Tanya Hesser⁶  David VanHoff⁵ 

[1] Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA;Blank Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Blank Children’s Hospital, Des Moines, IA, USA;Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA;The Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada;Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital at Spectrum Health, A member of the Grand Rapids Clinical Oncology Program, Grand Rapids, MI, USA;Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada

关键词: Clinical trial;    Accrual;    Clinical research associate;    Supportive care;    Cancer control;   

Others  :  866532
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2288-13-154

 received in 2013-08-13, accepted in 2013-12-20,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Accrual to Cancer Control and Supportive Care (CCL) studies can be challenging. Our objective was to identify facilitators and perceived barriers to successful Children’s Oncology Group (COG) CCL accrual from the clinical research associate (CRA) perspective.

Methods

A survey was developed that focused on the following features from the institutional perspective: (1) Components of successful accrual; (2) Barriers to accrual; (3) Institutional changes that could enhance accrual; and (4) How COG could facilitate accrual. The survey was distributed to the lead CRA at each COG site with at least 2 CCL accruals within the previous year. The written responses were classified into themes and sub-themes.

Results

57 sites in the United States (n = 52) and Canada (n = 5) were contacted; 34 (60%) responded. The four major themes were: (1) Staff presence and dynamics; (2) Logistics including adequate numbers of eligible patients; (3) Interests and priorities; and (4) Resources. Suggestions for improvement began at the study design/conception stage, and included ongoing training/support and increased reimbursement or credit for successful CCL enrollment.

Conclusions

The comments resulted in suggestions to facilitate CCL trials in the future. Soliciting input from key team members in the clinical trials process is important to maximizing accrual rates.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 VanHoff et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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