title: Barriers to Clinical Trial Enrollment in Racial and Ethnic Minority Patients With Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical trials that study cancer are essential for testing the safety and effectiveness of promising treatments, but most people with cancer never enroll in a clinical trial - a challenge exemplified in racial and ethnic minorities. Underenrollment of racial and ethnic minorities reduces the generalizability of research findings and represents a disparity in access to high-quality health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a multilevel model as a framework, potential barriers to trial enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities were identified at system, individual, and interpersonal levels. Exactly how each level directly or indirectly contributes to doctor-patient communication was also reviewed. Selected examples of implemented interventions are included to help address these barriers. We then propose our own evidence-based intervention addressing barriers at the individual and interpersonal levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Barriers to enrolling a diverse population of patients in clinical trials are complex and multilevel. Interventions focused at each level have been relatively successful, but multilevel interventions have the greatest potential for success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To increase the enrollment of racial and ethnic minorities in clinical trials, future interventions should address barriers at multiple levels.
authors.affiliation: Wayne State University, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, Population Studies Disparities Research Program, Detroit, MI, USA. hamell@karmanos.org.
authors.forename: Lauren M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.forename: Louis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Penner
authors.forename: Terrance L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.forename: Clement K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Gwede
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eggly
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology*; D018579:Patient Selection