Previous research has shown that there are multiple obstacles to patient participation in clinical trials. Among the more frequently cited barriers are the fear of side effects, concern about random assignment to placebo, a lack of awareness of clinical trials, and concerns about the costs associated with participating in a clinical trial.

On Cancer.Net, your patients can find information on clinical trials in different formats that are tailored to their concerns about clinical trial participation.

PRE-ACT: Interactive video-based program for patients

PRE-ACT (Preparatory Education About Clinical Trials) is designed to help patients make informed decisions about participating in a clinical trial. Developed with support from the National Cancer Institute, it offers patients a personalized experience with more than 20 educational videos tailored to their individual concerns.

“We developed PRE-ACT to attempt to address patient knowledge gaps and attitudes about clinical trials before they ever see a physician, to better prepare them to consider a clinical trial should one be available and appropriate for them,” said Neal J. Meropol, MD, FASCO, of University Hospitals Case Medical Center and developer of the PRE-ACT program.

Results from a phase III clinical trial evaluating PRE-ACT showed that this program was effective in improving patient knowledge about and attitudes toward clinical trials. There was also a trend toward greater self-reported preparedness to consider clinical trials among those patients exposed to the PRE-ACT program.

Additional information on clinical trials

Cancer.Net also offers general written information on the following topics:

• Phases of clinical trials, including specific information about phase I trials for cancer
• Patient safety and informed consent
• The use of placebos in cancer clinical trials
• Making the decision to participate in a clinical trial
• Health insurance coverage of clinical trials
• Where to find a clinical trial

Direct your patients to the Clinical Trials section of Cancer.Net to learn more about these topics, where they will also find a list of questions to ask a medical professional about clinical trials and trial participation.