title: Korean Cancer Patients' Awareness of Clinical Trials, Perceptions on the Benefit and Willingness to Participate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess current levels of awareness of clinical trials (CTs), perceptions regarding their benefits and willingness to participate to CTs among Korean cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  From December 2012 to August 2015, we distributed questionnaires to cancer patients receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy at Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 397 out of 520 requested patients (76.3%) responded to the survey. Among the 397 patients, 62.5% were female and the median age was 52 years. Overall, 97.4% (387/397) answered that they have at least heard of CTs. When asked about their level of awareness, 23.8% (92/387) answered that they could more than roughly explain about CTs. The average visual analogue scale score of CT benefit in all patients was 6.43 (standard deviation, 2.20). Patients who were only familiar with the term without detailed knowledge of the contents had the least expectation of benefit from CTs (p=0.015). When asked about their willingness to participate in CTs, 56.7% (225/397) answered positively. Patients with higher levels of awareness of CTs showed higher willingness to participate (p < 0.001). Heavily treated patients and patients with previous experience regarding CTs also showed a higher willingness to participate (p < 0.001). The perceived benefit of CTs was higher in the group willing to participate (p=0.026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patient's level of awareness regarding CTs was positively related to the positive perception and willingness to participate. Although the general awareness of CTs was high, a relatively large proportion of patients did not have accurate knowledge; therefore, proper and accurate patient education is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Translational Medicine Major, Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoojoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bhumsuk
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Keam
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Yong
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Min
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sae-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Translational Medicine Major, Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Do Youn
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Translational Medicine Major, Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Wan
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Translational Medicine Major, Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-You
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Seog
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yung-Jue
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.|Translational Medicine Major, Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seock-Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Im
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010358:Patient Participation; D010465:Perception; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Awareness; Clinical trial; Neoplasms; Patients; Perception; Volition