A Review of Barriers to Minorities' Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials: Implications for Future Cancer Research

J Immigr Minor Health. 2016 Apr;18(2):447-53. doi: 10.1007/s10903-015-0198-9.

Abstract

To enhance nurses' awareness and competencies in practice and research by reporting the common barriers to participation of minorities in cancer clinical trials and discussing facilitators and useful strategies for recruitment. Several databases were searched for articles published in peer reviewed journals. Some of the barriers to minorities' participation in clinical trials were identified within the cultural social-context of cancer patients. The involvement of community networking was suggested as the most effective strategy for the recruitment of minorities in cancer clinical trials. Using culturally sensitive approaches to enhance ethnic minorities' participation is important for advancing cancer care and eliminating health disparities. Awareness of barriers and potential facilitators to the enrollment of ethnic minority cancer patients may contribute to enhancing nurses' competencies of recruiting ethnic minorities in nursing research, playing efficient roles in cancer clinical trials team, and providing culturally competent quality care.

Keywords: Barriers; Cancer; Clinical trials; Ethnic minority; Recruitment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomedical Research / standards
  • Biomedical Research / trends*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Minority Groups / statistics & numerical data
  • Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Patient Selection*
  • Risk Factors
  • Selection Bias
  • United States