How to Overcome Barriers to Clinical Trial Participation
Joining a cancer clinical trial may present challenges, but you can work with your care team to find solutions.
There are more ways to diagnose and treat various types of cancer than ever before. This is in large part due to clinical trials, says David Nguyen, MD, a medical oncologist at Lowell General Hospital Cancer Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Clinical trials are research studies that test new treatment options, which means they’re crucial for advancing cancer care. And participation among people with cancer is increasing: Research suggests that one in five people who have cancer participate in one or more cancer research studies.
Many obstacles can get in the way of clinical trial participation, though, from eligibility requirements to travel limitations. The good news is, there are ways to overcome these obstacles. Keep reading to learn how.
Here are some common barriers to clinical trial participation — and potential work-arounds you may be able to implement with the help of your care team.
Challenge 1: Strict Eligibility Criteria
Every clinical trial has what’s known as eligibility criteria — a specific set of characteristics or requirements you must meet to be considered for a given trial. This can include factors such as:
Age
Sex
Cancer stage
Overall health
Previous treatment
If you don’t meet a trial’s eligibility criteria, you won’t be considered for participation.
Solution: You can work with your oncologist to determine what kinds of trials may be right for you. The National Cancer Institute’s How to Join a Clinical Trial: Cancer Details Checklist can help you work through common eligibility criteria, so you’ll have your information handy when exploring trial options.
Challenge 2: Geographic Limitations
Most clinical trial sites are in urban areas with a high concentration of academic research institutions, hospital networks, and other services. If you live in a rural area, you may face a long commute, as well as the financial burden of traveling.
Solution: “We found out during the pandemic — when clinics were more open to remote care — that you can participate in trials from a distance,” says Dr. Nguyen. This may involve electronic monitoring devices to collect data and virtual check-ins with healthcare providers. And if you do need to travel, many trial teams provide compensation for travel and accommodations.
Challenge 3: High Demands on Participants
Trials that ask for a lot from participants, such as frequent, lengthy appointments, can feel overwhelming and be a deterrent, research shows.
Solution: Work with your oncologist to find a trial that best suits your needs, says Nguyen. You can also make a demanding trial more manageable by finding work-arounds, such as using electronic communication in place of some trial site visits. Keep in mind that cancer treatment, in general, is time intensive, even if you don’t participate in a trial.
Challenge 4: Costs Associated With Participation
Participating in a clinical trial can sometimes pose a financial burden if you need to take time off from work, hire childcare, or travel to the trial site.
Solution: At most academic centers conducting trials, social workers are available to help connect you with free resources you may not know are available to you.
“When you start to seek out clinical trials, you should work with a financial adviser or coordinator,” Nguyen advises. “Oftentimes, they can be creative in finding ways to help you travel to trials, too, like offering rideshare credits.”
Challenge 5: Misconceptions About Participation
Research shows that the idea of participating in a clinical trial makes some people who have cancer feel like they’re signing up to be experimented on like a lab rat.
Solution: Don’t think of yourself as a guinea pig. Trials don’t exist for experimentation’s sake. Clinical trials are necessary to advance cancer care, and the primary goal is to enhance treatment options for people. “Clinical trial participation is really the engine that allows us to bring great therapies to the front line,” says Nguyen. And participating in a clinical trial can even help you gain access to the latest treatment advances before they’re more widely available.
Clinical trials are essential for advancing cancer treatment, yet many people face barriers to participation, such as strict eligibility criteria, geographic limitations, and financial concerns.
Support is available to help overcome these obstacles, including remote trial options, financial assistance, and guidance from oncologists to identify the best trial options.
Dispelling myths about clinical trials can empower more people to enroll, which contributes to the development of more effective and personalized cancer treatment.
