title: Uptake of clinical trials in a palliative care setting: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There has been growth in the number of clinical trials conducted in the palliative care setting. However, issues exist regarding patient acceptance and vulnerability as well as the appropriateness of conducting trials in the dying patient. This study aimed to investigate the uptake of palliative care clinical trials at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, evaluate patient demographics for those enrolled onto study and assess the proportion of patients who died within 28 days of enrolling on a palliative care clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study of all patients prescreened and enrolled onto palliative care clinical trials by the Palliative Care Clinical Trials Team (PCCTT) at the Royal Melbourne Hospital over a 27-month period was undertaken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 515 patients referred to the PCCTT for consideration of trial enrollment, 64 (12.4%) were subsequently enrolled onto one of six clinical trials open during the study period. About 62.5% were non-cancer patients; 81.3% of all patients completed the trial intervention and 65.6% completed trial follow-up; 28.1% of patients enrolled died within 28 days of trial commencement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 500 patients were referred for assessment of clinical trial participation perhaps reflecting clinician acceptance of palliative care clinical trials. A number of enrolled patients were involved in trials during their terminal phase, indicating a willingness of participants to be involved, despite poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Melbourne Health, Parkville, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eastman
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: clinical trial; palliative care; research