According to a national poll, more than two-thirds of Americans say it’s likely they would participate in a clinical trial if recommended by their doctor, but only 22 percent say a doctor or other health care professional has ever talked to them about medical research. Commissioned by Research!America, a research advocacy group, the findings of the survey paint a vivid picture of the need for health care providers to educate patients on the benefits of clinical trials.
Because clinical trials represent the leading edge of cancer treatment and quality care, Georgia CORE — the Center for Oncology, Research and Education — was formed in 2003 to focus on increasing their access and availability. Oncologists created a research network to ensure equitable distribution of trials and treatments across the state.
A common misperception about clinical trials is that they are only academic. It does take a scientist to develop the concept for new and effective treatments. But it also takes community oncologists to administer the treatments. The collaboration that was formalized a decade ago in building our research network has provided a “safe zone” for studies here; 90 percent of the oncologists who treat cancer patients in Georgia are affiliated with Georgia CORE.
The focus on clinical trials for cancer has resulted in their increased availability in Georgia by at least 80 percent in the last four years. Also, access to these trials has increased, with 42 percent offered in rural Georgia, where 46 percent of the state’s population resides. And though accrual rates are low across the country, participation in clinical trials in Georgia has increased — notably among minorities, who represent approximately 25 percent of patients enrolled in Georgia CORE-sponsored studies.
The most troubling data point from the poll is that of the respondents who said they had heard of a clinical trial, more than half learned about it through the Internet, and only a quarter, from a doctor or other health care provider. We value the Internet, which is why we created GeorgiaCancerInfo.org, an online information center for all things cancer all over the state. But we also believe patients need to hear from their health care providers about the most advanced treatments available.
Clinical trials allow for breakthroughs. Clinical trials allow for discoveries that will one day help find cures for cancer and, in the meantime, improve the quality of life of cancer patients. When given the opportunity, patients understand that participating in a study not only is potentially beneficial for them, but also for the 48,000 Georgians who will be diagnosed with cancer this year.
Health care providers must work together to ensure all cancer patients in Georgia know their options and understand the benefits of clinical trials. We must raise awareness that our patients can benefit from the amazing research happening right here in our state. If we do not, what’s the point of the research?
Dr. Roland Matthews is medical director of the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady Memorial Hospital. Nancy M. Paris is president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education.
