Patient internet use surrounding cancer clinical trials: clinician perceptions and responses

Christian Simon; Sarah Schramm; Stephen Hillis

doi:10.1016/j.cct.2010.03.003

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Patient internet use surrounding cancer clinical trials: clinician perceptions and responses

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Patient internet use surrounding cancer clinical trials: clinician perceptions and responses

Christian Simon, Sarah Schramm and Stephen Hillis

Contemporary clinical trials, Vol.31(3), pp.229-234

05/2010

DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2010.03.003

PMCID: PMC2858243

PMID: 20227523

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Abstract

Clinician perceptions of patient internet use related to clinical trials are not well documented. This exploratory study surveyed how cancer care providers at one NCI-designated cancer center viewed patient internet use surrounding cancer trials, including whether it affected patient decision making regarding trial enrollment. The sample included 20 oncologists (59%) and 14 (41%) nurses (n=34). Most clinicians (n=26; 76%) perceived the internet as having an effect on whether or not patients decided to enroll in a cancer trial. Two thirds (n=17; 65%) felt that this effect was positive, including in terms of enhancing patient knowledge of, access to, and enrollment in trials. Clinicians were asked if they ever discussed with their patients the topic of going online to find out more about cancer trials. Over half (n=18; 58%) who responded (n=31) to this item said yes; the rest (n=13; 42%) said no. The majority (n=10; 77%) in the "no" category were among those who reported that the internet had an effect on patient decision making. These data provisionally suggest that clinicians may see the internet as having mostly a positive effect on patient decision making about cancer trials, but that their communication efforts with patients do not always logically follow from this perception. Provider-patient discussion about internet use may be an opportunity for clinicians to contribute to improved patient knowledge of and enrollment in cancer trials. More research is needed to confirm and explain the gap between clinician perception and communication regarding trial-related internet use by cancer patients.

Biomedical Research

Clinical Trials as Topic

Confidence Intervals

Data Collection

Decision Making

Female

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Humans

Internet - utilization

Male

Neoplasms - therapy

Patient Education as Topic

Physician-Patient Relations

Physicians

Research Personnel

Social Perception

United States

Details

Title: Subtitle: Patient internet use surrounding cancer clinical trials: clinician perceptions and responses
Creators: Christian Simon - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Sarah Schramm - Cleveland Clinic
Stephen Hillis - Iowa City VA Health Care System
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Contemporary clinical trials, Vol.31(3), pp.229-234
DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2010.03.003
PMID: 20227523
PMCID: PMC2858243
ISSN: 1551-7144
eISSN: 1559-2030
Grant note: K07 CA108457-06 / NCI NIH HHS K07 CA108457 / NCI NIH HHS CA108457 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 05/2010
Academic Unit: Radiology; Biostatistics; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984318785202771

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