The impact of a community-based clinical trial educational intervention among underrepresented Chinese Americans

Abstract

Background: Clinical trials are a critical resource for the discovery of new prevention, diagnostic, and treatment methods for cancer. The most effective prevention and treatment modalities are based on previous clinical trial results. However, participation in clinical trials is underrepresented by racial/ethnic minority populations, Asian Americans in particular. Asian Americans are the least represented of any ethnic groups in clinical trials. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a culturally and linguistically appropriate community-based educational intervention to increase knowledge of and intent to participate in cancer clinical trials among underrepresented Chinese Americans.

Methods: Community-Based Participatory Research approach was used to guide the development, cultural tailoring, implementation, and evaluation of clinical trial intervention. First, 22 Asian community representatives were recruited as community health educators (CHE) who received 12-hour training on clinical trial education. Second, 262 members were recruited from 11 Chinese community organizations. Of those recruited, a total of 247 eligible Chinese enrolled and participated in the clinical trial education delivered by trained CHEs. Participants completed pretest before and posttest after the intervention.

Results: Fifteen of 21 measures of clinical trial knowledge showed significant changes post the intervention (P < 0.05). Education remained the sole demographic factor increasing clinical trial knowledge in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: Clinical trial education should emphasize both benefits to science and the larger Asian community. This community-based clinical trial intervention demonstrated promising results and has potential to enhance recruitment and participation in clinical trial research among the underrepresented Asian Americans.

Impact: Improving clinical trial participation in the fast-growing Asian American population is key to dissemination of health innovations targeted to diminish health disparities.