Factors that influence a patient's decision to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To explore factors that influence an individual's decision to participate in phase I cancer clinical trials.


METHODS
Exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative study.


METHODS
Outpatient oncology clinic of a comprehensive cancer center in an urban setting.


METHODS
22 patients with cancer who had been asked at some point during their treatment to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial were invited to participate in a focus group. Eight patients participated.


METHODS
Two focus groups were conducted.


METHODS
Factors that influenced patients' decisions to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial.


RESULTS
Participants expressed that hope for a cure and trusting the oncologist's advice were the primary factors that influenced their decisions to participate in phase I research. The majority expressed surprise that anyone would participate in an experimental study for altruistic reasons.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients choose to hope for some personal benefit from their participation in phase I clinical trials even though they realized that is not the purpose or goal of the trial.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses are in an ideal position to offer information to individuals who are deciding whether to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial. However, most nurses are not seizing this opportunity. Patients are unable to describe nurses' impact on their decision to enter a phase I cancer clinical trial.
Schutta
K M
KM
Hematology/Oncology Department, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. schuttak@gunet.georgetown.edu
Burnett
C B
CB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D003657:Decision Making; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*