Congress Abstracts 2005

223

ASK ME ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALS: A PROMOTION TO INCREASE STAFF, PATIENT AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT CLINICAL TRIALS IN A COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER. Darryl Somayaji, RN, MSN, CCRC, Denise Rutkowski, MS, RN, CRC, Carol Sherer, RN, and Megan Battaglia, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY.

Approximately 4% of adults with cancer participate in a clinical trial. Knowledge deficits and preconceived ideas about clinical trials are barriers to accrual. Education provided by oncology nurses increases awareness of clinical trials, including treatment, prevention, screening, quality of life, risks and benefits associated with treatment.

The purpose of “Ask Me About Clinical Trials” is to promote a plan within a comprehensive cancer center (CCC) that will increase awareness about clinical trials. The goals and objectives of this promotion are to educate staff, patients, and community by integrating educational opportunities within the CCC, and outreach to the community. The intent is to stimulate interest and commitment to clinical trials as a viable option for cancer treatment.

Staff and patients will wear logo buttons with “Ask Me About Clinical Trials” on them. Effective teaching and learning strategies are being implemented in the following areas:

1. Employee orientation
2. Inpatient and ambulatory:
• Collaborative in-service training for nursing and health care professionals within the CCC.
• Clinical trials “updates” are presented in the form of clinical trial implementation and clinical trial outcome sessions.
• Informal lunchtime presentation for CCC staff about clinical trials at Rowell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI)
3. Patient education
• Clinical trial brochures
• Bookmarks with RPCI website information
• Information about clinical trials will be included in patient information folders.
• Informational sessions with support groups

The promotion is being evaluated on the new employee evaluation form, and in-service sessions for staff. Requests to the Ask RPCI hotline inquiring information about clinical trials will be evaluated. Clinical trial accrual will be monitored in each clinical center in a quarterly report.

The “Ask Me About Clinical Trials” promotion provides the opportunity for staff, patient, and community to develop a basic understanding of how research moves from the laboratory to patient, and the importance of prevention and early detection information. Oncology nurses understanding the clinical trial process, provides the opportunity for patients to make an informed decision regarding care and to have access to CCC resources.