Dolinsky Christopher M, Wei S Jack, Hampshire Margaret K, Metz James M
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Breast J. 2006 Jul-Aug;12(4):324-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1075-122X.2006.00270.x.
Web-based clinical trials matching systems including breast cancer patients are expanding rapidly. However, limited data exist regarding the demographics and attitudes of breast cancer patients using the Internet to search for clinical trials information. Biases in patient populations could be introduced by recruiting patients to trials through the Internet. This study was designed to compare breast cancer patients in the radiation oncology clinic to those using the Internet to search for clinical trials information. A piloted questionnaire assessing demographics and attitudes regarding clinical trials was offered through the radiation oncology clinic at the University of Pennsylvania and on the OncoLink website (http://www.oncolink.org). The questionnaire consisted of 18 questions and was answered by a total of 157 patients with breast cancer. Breast cancer patients using the Web were more likely to be interested in clinical trials testing new drugs or therapies (71 [53%] versus 4 [17%], p = 0.002). More clinic patients indicated they would need a greater than 50% chance of benefiting from a trial (12 [52%] versus 33 [25%], p = 0.01) and a less than 10% potential for serious toxicity from a trial (15 [65%] versus 51 [38%], p = 0.02) for consideration of enrollment. African Americans were more likely than other races to have never used the Internet to search for cancer-related information (4 [40%] versus 18 [12%], p = 0.01), more likely to indicate that they need a greater than 50% chance of benefit to enroll in clinical trials (8 [80%] versus 37 [25%], p = 0.001), and less likely to be interested in clinical trials testing new drugs or therapies (1 [10%] versus 73 [50%], p = 0.01). Breast cancer patients have different attitudes regarding clinical trials based on race, Internet usage, and previous trial enrollment. Biases may be introduced with recruitment for clinical trials through the Internet. Radiation oncologists must consider these issues when offering clinical trials information through the Internet.
包括乳腺癌患者在内的基于网络的临床试验匹配系统正在迅速发展。然而，关于使用互联网搜索临床试验信息的乳腺癌患者的人口统计学特征和态度的数据有限。通过互联网招募患者参加试验可能会导致患者群体出现偏差。本研究旨在比较放射肿瘤诊所的乳腺癌患者与使用互联网搜索临床试验信息的患者。通过宾夕法尼亚大学放射肿瘤诊所和OncoLink网站（http://www.oncolink.org）提供了一份试点问卷，评估有关临床试验的人口统计学特征和态度。该问卷由18个问题组成，共有157名乳腺癌患者进行了回答。使用网络的乳腺癌患者更有可能对测试新药或疗法的临床试验感兴趣（71名[53%]对4名[17%]，p = 0.002）。更多诊所患者表示，他们需要从试验中获益的机会大于50%（12名[52%]对33名[25%]，p = 0.01），并且试验导致严重毒性的可能性小于10%（15名[65%]对51名[38%]，p = 0.02）才会考虑参加。非裔美国人比其他种族更有可能从未使用互联网搜索过癌症相关信息（4名[40%]对18名[12%]，p = 0.01），更有可能表示他们需要大于50%的获益机会才能参加临床试验（8名[80%]对37名[25%]，p = 0.001），并且对测试新药或疗法的临床试验不太感兴趣（1名[10%]对73名[50%]，p = 0.01）。基于种族、互联网使用情况和先前的试验参与情况，乳腺癌患者对临床试验有不同的态度。通过互联网招募临床试验患者可能会引入偏差。放射肿瘤学家在通过互联网提供临床试验信息时必须考虑这些问题。
