Factors that influence a patient's decision to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To explore factors that influence an individual's decision to participate in phase I cancer clinical trials.

DESIGN

Exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative study.

SETTING

Outpatient oncology clinic of a comprehensive cancer center in an urban setting.

SAMPLE

22 patients with cancer who had been asked at some point during their treatment to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial were invited to participate in a focus group. Eight patients participated.

METHODS

Two focus groups were conducted.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Factors that influenced patients' decisions to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial.

FINDINGS

Participants expressed that hope for a cure and trusting the oncologist's advice were the primary factors that influenced their decisions to participate in phase I research. The majority expressed surprise that anyone would participate in an experimental study for altruistic reasons.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients choose to hope for some personal benefit from their participation in phase I clinical trials even though they realized that is not the purpose or goal of the trial.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Nurses are in an ideal position to offer information to individuals who are deciding whether to participate in a phase I cancer clinical trial. However, most nurses are not seizing this opportunity. Patients are unable to describe nurses' impact on their decision to enter a phase I cancer clinical trial.