Increasing Awareness and Access to Early-Phase Clinical Trials

Aim: The VCCC Alliance's project on Increasing Awareness & Access to Early-Phase Clinical Trials aims to provide accessible information about early-phase clinical trials for both consumers and clinical trial staff, including research coordinators and clinicians.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop recommendations for consumer-facing early phase clinical trial information

• Provide equitable consumer-facing early phase clinical trial information

Developing Recommendations for Consumer-facing Early Phase Clinical Trial Information

Recruiting participants for clinical trials poses a considerable challenge, particularly for early-phase clinical trials, which present unique challenges due to their specialised nature and the timing of their offerings. 

Providing adequate information to support a consumer's decision to participate is complex, compounded by prevailing myths that label participants as "guinea pigs." In response, the VCCC Alliance's Accelerating Novel Therapies program collaborated with member sites (Western Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Austin Health, and St. Vincent's) to conduct a quality improvement exercise and produce materials that cater to consumer needs. A literature review and scoping exercise, including collaboration with Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) internationally, were conducted to understand the provision of information on early-phase clinical trials. Focus groups, involving consumers and advocates, reviewed available materials and communication methods, leading to 'best practice' recommendations.