141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

278926
Addressing community concerns for increasing clinical trial participation among Asian americans

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Yin Tan, MD, MPH , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Center for Asian Health, Philadelphia, PA
Grace X. Ma, PhD , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Center for Asian Health, Philadelphia, PA
Brenda Seals, PhD, MPH , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Sylvia Y. Wang, B.A. , Department of Public Health, Temple University, Center for Asian Health, Philadelphia, PA
Richard Lee, MPH , Asian Community Health Coalition, Philadelphia, PA
Xiang S. Ma, MD , School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Asian Americans are not taking full advantage of new prevention and treatments options because they may not understand or be offered participation in clinical trials.

Objective: The goal of this study is to provide information on community values and knowledge that improves recruitment and retention of Asian Americans in clinical trials.

Methods: Eights (8) focus groups were conducted (n=103), 2 with Chinese (2 cities), Korean and Vietnamese Americans. One moderator with a translator conducted each group using a standardized guide.

Results: All groups had some members who thought that clinical trial would give hope to those affected by terminal diseases. Majority participants mentioned benefits of contributing to science, future generations and their families. Participants discussed ways to increase participation rates such as: 1) having a doctor's recommendation; 2) wanting a degree of guarantee about the effectiveness of their treatment and the lack of health threatening side effects; and 3) being sick or needing more options for treatment. Few community members thought that cultural or religious beliefs would prevent participating. Every group had participants that were enthusiastic and had reservations about clinical trials.

Conclusions: Clinical trial education for Asian Americans needs to include information about benefits to science and larger community. Potential participants need lay information about risks and benefits for standard and innovative treatment arms in plain language. Health care providers play a pivotal role in recruiting Asian Americans, which may allow subgroup analyses and identify important ethnically specific harms and benefits of new prevention and treatment options.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify the general community values and understanding towards clinical trials in Asian American communities. Apply the results of this study to the design and development of their own intervention program or recruitment strategies to increase Asian Americans’ participation and retention in clinical trials.

Keywords: Clinical Trials, Asian Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator of multiple federally funded grants focusing on behavioral health intervention trials, health disparities/transcultural health care for underserved Asian Americans and other ethnic minority populations, cancer prevention and intervention, tobacco control and lung cancer, chronic disease intervention, public health education and community health, health promotion, and global or international health. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies of preventing cancer, chronic disease and tobacco control.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.