title: Increasing Asian American participation in clinical trials by addressing community concerns.
abstract: Background Asian Americans are underrepresented in clinical trials, but little is known about the factors that contribute to clinical trial participation in this population. Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify knowledge, barriers, facilitators, and cultural influences on participating in clinical trials among three Asian American ethnic groups. Concurrently, we sought to identify mechanisms and messages to facilitate dissemination of information and to identify strategies to promote clinical trial participation in this population. Methods Eight focus groups were conducted (n = 103) with Chinese (four groups), Korean (two groups), and Vietnamese (two groups) Americans. Each group was conducted with a moderator and a translator using a standardized guide. Results Participants discuss the benefits of contributing to science, future generations, and their families by being in clinical trials. Some participants think clinical trials would give hope to those with terminal illnesses. A doctor's recommendation, being sick, and needing more options for treatment are motivators for Asian Americans. Having some guarantee of treatment effectiveness and lack of side effects facilitates participation. Cultural or religious beliefs are not believed to prevent clinical trial participation. Limitations This qualitative, two-site study included three Asian American ethnic groups and is not meant to establish prevalence of beliefs. Conclusion Asian Americans need more information about clinical trials and their benefits to science and the larger community. Health-care providers can play pivotal roles in enhancing recruitment of Asian Americans. Basing recruitment goals on percentage representation in most US geographic areas does not provide sufficient numbers to allow for analysis of minorities like Asian American groups. The discovery of important group-specific harms and benefits depends on greater participation of racial/ethnic subgroups.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Asian Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.|b Department of Public Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Grace X
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: a Center for Asian Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seals
authors.affiliation: a Center for Asian Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: a Center for Asian Health, College of Health Professions, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvia Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: c Asian Community Health Coalition, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: d Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research