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    A statistical analysis of a questionnaire from 166 patients that evaluated demographics and attitudes toward clinical trials was conducted by Philadelphia doctors in 2 radiation oncology clinics. The questionnaire revealed that White versus non-White patients were more likely to gather information about clinical trials from the Internet (30.6% versus 11.3%, P = 0.007), and were more likely to use physicians as a source of information on clinical trials (50.0% versus 34.0%, P = 0.05). Non-White patients more likely to obtain information on clinical trials from other patients (24.5% versus 12.0%, P = 0.04), and more non-White patients believed they had been treated in a clinical trial without their knowledge (21.6% versus 9.3%, P = 0.032). More non-Whites needed a >50% chance of benefiting from a trial (64.4% versus 45.0%, P = 0.03) before enrolling. However, the study showed that both White and non-Whites were equally interested in learning about clinical trials (84.3% versus 84.9%, P = 0.92), and there was no statistical differences in outlook towards potential toxicities associated with treatment from a clinical trial. There was also no significant difference in the rate of previous or current trial enrollment (21.3% versus 34.0%, P = 0.08).

    The researchers continue in the discussion that the research findings correlate with previous findings that non-White populations are more distrustful of the medical community. Previous studies have cited study subjects referring to examples such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Agent Orange, and the AIDS epidemic as exploitation by researchers. The researchers bring up possible under representation of minorities in clinical trials but noted that so far in radiotherapy trials, this has not been observed. One important point noted is the need for a better explanation of informed consent as well as better timing for discussing clinical trial enrollment, instead of following immediately after diagnosis. It was stated that patients may feel overwhelmed in the decision making process for enrollment in a clinical trial following diagnosis, and this may be an inopportune time to discuss enrollment.

This is the abstract for the article about the attitudes toward a attitudes toward a clinical trial.