Understanding patient decisions about clinical trials and the associated communication process: A preliminary report

Background. Although patient participation in clinical trials is vital to cancer research, the rate of enrollment in such trials is not adequate for advancing scientific knowledge. Relatively little is known about why patients enroll in such trials. This affects the training and education programs designed to increase such participation. Methods. A model of the accrual process, which focuses on communication among the physician, patient, and family members is described. Then a system for observing and recording these interactions is presented. Results, Conclusion. Data are presented that suggest using the system to test the conceptual model can improve our understanding of patient decisions about clinical trials and hold out the potential for improving provider training.