Enhancing Cancer Prevention Research: The Role of Physician Education for Asian-American Women

A recent study conducted at the University of California in San Francisco has highlighted the need for increased participation of Asian-American women in cancer prevention research. Investigators mailed surveys to primary care physicians in Northern California to assess their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers concerning the participation of Asian-American women in breast cancer chemoprevention research. The response rate was 52.3%, with significant barriers identified including lack of study knowledge, limited English proficiency, and complex protocols. The study's findings emphasize the importance of physician education and linguistically appropriate recruitment efforts to increase research participation among Asian-Americans.

Key Takeaways:

A study conducted by T.T. Nguyen and colleagues at the University of California in San Francisco found that little is known about the participation of Asian-Americans in cancer prevention research.
The survey response rate was 52.3% (n=306 physicians), with significant barriers identified, including lack of study knowledge (73%), limited English proficiency (78%), and complex protocols (69%).
Physician education and linguistically appropriate recruitment efforts are crucial to increase research participation among Asian-Americans.
Significantly more Asian-American physicians than non-Asian-American physicians selected lack of culturally relevant information on breast cancer (86% vs. 54%) and fear of experimentation (86% vs. 43%) as patient barriers.
Physicians who were in practice longer, spent more time with patients, or knew of tools to estimate breast cancer risk were more likely to discuss cancer trials with Asian-American women.
Male physicians and those who believed that Asian-American women's deference to physicians was a barrier were less likely to have discussed cancer trials with Asian-American women.

Statistics:

52.3% response rate from primary care physicians in Northern California to assess their knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and barriers concerning the participation of Asian-American women in breast cancer chemoprevention research.
73% of respondents selected lack of study knowledge as a barrier.
78% of respondents selected limited English proficiency as a barrier.
69% of respondents selected complex protocols as a barrier.
86% of Asian-American physicians selected lack of culturally relevant information on breast cancer as a patient barrier.
86% of Asian-American physicians selected fear of experimentation as a patient barrier.

Sources:

Nguyen, T. T., et al. (2005). Participation of Asian-American women in cancer chemoprevention research - Physician perspectives. Cancer, 104(12 Suppl.), 3006-3014.
Health & Medicine Week editors. (2006, August 3). Physician education would enhance the recruitment of Asian-American women into cancer prevention research. Health & Medicine Week.