A demonstration project to increase the awareness of cancer clinical trials among community-dwelling seniors.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the planning, implementation, and evaluation of an educational program to increase the awareness of cancer clinical trials among community-dwelling seniors in a southeastern metropolitan community.


METHODS
Published articles, research findings, conference proceedings, government-issued educational materials, and clinical experiences with patient recruitment and enrollment.


RESULTS
The elderly are underrepresented significantly in cancer clinical trials. Often, patients and the lay public are not aware of clinical trials or have misconceptions about research. Community outreach efforts represent one viable strategy to close this knowledge gap.


CONCLUSIONS
Local communities can build partnerships to identify creative methods for disseminating materials about clinical trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Oncology nurses can create and participate in partnerships that communicate information about cancer clinical trials within their local communities.
Ehrenberger
Heidi E
HE
College of Nursing, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. ehrenber@utk.edu
Breeden
Jamie R
JR
Donovan
Mary E
ME
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000451:nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires