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Congress Abstracts 2006
219
ONCOLOGY RESEARCH NURSES: A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION. Darryl Somayaji, MSN, RN, CCRC, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY.
Accrual to oncology clinical trial continues to be a challenging national goal. According to the Nation Cancer Institute (NCI), less than 5 percent of adults diagnosed with cancer each year will seek treatment as a participant in a clinical trial. Providing opportunities through clinical trial community education encourages important dialog between healthcare provider and potential research study participant.
The purpose of the project is to educate the community about clinical trials utilizing skills and expertise of oncology research nurses of an NCI comprehensive cancer center (CCC). The plan is to enhance accrual to oncology research studies by tapping into those valuable resources. Research in the CCC is arranged in clinical programs (e.g. genitourinary cancer). The research nurse is an essential member of the clinical and research team assigned to a clinical program.
Research nurses are available to present information about clinical trials related to specific clinical programs in the community settings. These presentations include: Western New York Chapter Oncology Nursing Society Education Conference, CCC Network affiliations, presentations in conjunction with pharmaceutical sponsors, local cancer support groups, and community health fairs. Future plans include exchange of clinical trial information with CCC international affiliations. Information regarding prevention, testing, screening, treatment, patient care costs, patient's rights and responsibilities, research outcomes, and cancer education resources associated with specific clinical trials are included in the community presentation.
Accrual for each clinical program and CCC clinical network site is assessed quarterly identifying the percent of accrual increase or decrease in each clinical program. Interest in clinical trials generated at community presentations will be monitored by the ASK CCC call center, ASK CCC web site and activity on the clinical trial area of the external web page of the CCC.
Oncology research nurses understanding of the clinical trial process, and established knowledge base of clinical trials in disease specific areas, provides the opportunity for potential participants in a clinical trial to make informed decisions for cancer care including participating in a clinical trial. Increasing accrual to clinical trials will assist researchers in answering significant questions that will lead to healthier prevention practices and improved treatment for cancer.