Using Medical School Curricula to Increase Minority Participation in Clinical Trials

Minority and medically underserved populations are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, limiting the generalizablity of research findings to these populations. Physicians play a critical role in clinical trials recruitment, and can educate their minority and underserved patients about trials, to help them to make an informed decision. However, clinical trials training is not part of most medical school's curricula. Many doctors have limited knowledge about clinical trials, and have had no practical experience discussing clinical trials with patients. The John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (JABSOM) has implemented strategies to address this challenge of increasing minority recruitment to clinical trials. JABSOM educates 60% of the medical students who subsequently work in Hawaii. The state's population is one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation. The composition of JABSOM's students mirrors Hawaii's ethnic population, contributing to the ethnic concordance between patients and providers in the state. Additionally, since 2003 JABSOM has incorporated clinical trials training resources developed by the National Cancer Institute into the school's Problem-Based Learning curricula to provide students with basic medical training about clinical trials. Six cohorts of medical students, totaling 390 students, have demonstrated increased knowledge of, and ability to discuss clinical trials. Further curricula enhancements, including the use of standardized patient clinical scenarios are being developed to build the students' practical skills of explaining clinical trials to patients. JABSOM's curricula enhancement strategies can improve minority participation in clinical trial research, and expedite parity in cancer care.