Awareness and Attitudes toward Cancer Clinical Trials － Family Perspective

The purpose of this study was to explore cancer patient families'' awareness、perception, attitude and influential factors for cancer clinical trial participation. A cross sectional survey was undertaken among cancer patient family. A total of 86 subjects were recruited from a medical center in Northern Taiwan. his result of study revealed solid cancer families had better awareness of clinical trial. Their attitudes toward clinical trial participation were more positive. The major reasons declining to participate in clinical trials were : treatment being selected at random、less said in what happens on the clinical trial、the doctor seems more interested in the clinical trial than treating patients. And the major reasons to participate in clinical trials were : more detailed information about their family treatment on clinical trial、treatment given in the clinical trial may had a great chance of cure、the doctor was an expert in the field. Family more impact from the negative aspects of clinical trial and significantly less willing to enroll trial were patients with less disease stage、better performance status,. hese finding of study might afford information about concern and prejudices for cancer clinical trial by families of cancer patient to clinical physicians, while enrolling these patients into clinical trials. These results might improved informing cancer patient and their family, and could also increase participation rate after realizing the purpose of clinical trial.