title: AccrualNet: Addressing Low Accrual Via a Knowledge-Based, Community of Practice Platform.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Present the design and initial evaluation of a unique, Web-enabled platform for the development of a community of practice around issues of oncology clinical trial accrual.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted research with oncology professionals to identify unmet clinical trial accrual needs in the field. In response, a comprehensive platform for accrual resources, AccrualNet, was created by using an agile development process, storyboarding, and user testing. Literature and resource searches identified relevant content to populate the site. Descriptive statistics were tracked for resource and site usage. Use cases were defined to support implementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACCRUALNET HAS FIVE LEVELS: (1) clinical trial macrostages (prestudy, active study, and poststudy); (2) substages (developing a protocol, selecting a trial, preparing to open, enrolling patients, managing the trial, retaining participants, and lessons learned); (3) strategies for each substage; (4) multiple activities for each strategy; and (5) multiple resources for each activity. Since its launch, AccrualNet has had more than 45,000 page views, with the Tools & Resources, Conversations, and Training sections being the most viewed. Total resources have increased 69%, to 496 items. Analysis of articles in the site reveals that 22% are from two journals and 46% of the journals supplied a single article. To date, there are 29 conversations with 43 posts. Four use cases are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AccrualNet represents a unique, centralized comprehensive-solution platform to systematically capture accrual knowledge for all stages of a clinical trial. It is designed to foster a community of practice by encouraging users to share additional strategies, resources, and ideas.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; Center for Social Marketing and Communications Center, FHI360, Washington, DC; Health Communication Consultant, Annapolis, MD; Whitney Interactive Design, High Bridge, NJ; User-Centered Design, Ashburn, VA; Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Massett
authors.forename: Linda K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Parreco
authors.forename: Rose Mary
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Padberg
authors.forename: Ellen S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Richmond
authors.forename: Marie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rienzo
authors.forename: Colleen E Ryan
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Whitney
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quesenbery
authors.forename: H William
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Killiam
authors.forename: Lenora E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dilts