BlackDoctor.org (BDO)A Clinical Trial Gave Me Two Bonus Years With My Dad. Everyone Should Have That Chance

Black cancer patients participate in clinical trials at one-third the rate of their population representation despite facing higher late-stage diagnoses and lower survival rates. Only 4.4% of cancer trial participants are Black though Black Americans comprise 14.4% of the population—limiting treatment options and perpetuating outcome disparities.

⚖️ PROFESSIONAL IMPACT

• Medical mistrust drives trial avoidance in Black communities due to historical exploitation and ongoing discrimination, requiring trust-building through culturally competent nursing advocacy and patient-centered communication.
• Trial participation extended Stage IV colorectal cancer survival from under 1 year to over 3 years in featured case, demonstrating potential life-extending benefits when patients receive adequate support and education.
• Nurses serve as critical trial educators but many patients never receive comprehensive information about screening, prevention, behavioral, and quality-of-life trials beyond treatment-focused options.
• Therapeutic relationships between nurses and Black patients directly influence trial enrollment decisions, with trusted healthcare advocates reducing barriers to potentially life-saving research participation.

🎯 ACTION ITEMS

• Initiate early trial conversations at diagnosis rather than waiting for patients to ask questions about research participation options.
• Screen for medical mistrust concerns using open-ended questions about healthcare experiences and address historical harms with transparency and validation.
• Provide comprehensive trial education covering all trial types (screening, prevention, behavioral, quality-of-life) not just treatment studies.
• Connect patients to advocacy resources like Cancer Support Community’s Health Equity materials and culturally tailored decision support tools.

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