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- Title
Barriers in conducting clinical trials in oncology in the developing world: A cross-sectional survey of oncologists.
- Authors
Dandekar M.; Trivedi R.; Irawati N.; Prabhash K.; Gupta S.; Agarwal J. P.; D'Cruz A. K.; Dandekar, M; Trivedi, R; Irawati, N; Prabhash, K; Gupta, S; Agarwal, J P; D'Cruz, A K
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Several obstacles impede oncologists from performing clinical trials in the developing world. This study aimed to identify these barriers in order of importance and suggest possible remedial measures.<bold>Materials and Methods: </bold>Design - cross-sectional survey. Two part questionnaire capturing experience of oncologists in practice and conducting trials (Part 1) and perceived barriers pertaining to investigator (training, time), patient (strict follow-up protocol), infrastructure (funds) and professional environment (encouragement from seniors) (Part 2) were administered to oncologists in two different settings: (1) Online portal (Survey Monkey) (2) In person during a national conference (Best of American Society of Clinical Oncology). Responses were captured on a Likert scale (1-5).<bold>Results: </bold>(436/3021) 14.04% responded. A total of 313 (71.8%) had experience in conducting trials, but these were mainly industry-sponsored or small nonpractice changing studies. Lack of patient follow-up was the most significant barrier (inter quartile range [IQR] 4-5) followed by inadequate training, time and funds (IQR 2-5) and lack of encouragement (IQR 2-4) in decreasing order of frequency. Lack of adequate training was a barrier across all specialties (113 [71.97%] radiation oncologists, 71 [60.68%] medical oncologists and 73 [71.56%] surgical oncologists). More than half of the respondents without experience in clinical trials worked in academic institutions (50.48%). They perceived time constraint as a barrier more than their counterparts into private practice (175/242 [72.31%] vs. 119/177 [66.47%] respectively).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Inability to maintain patient follow-up, lack of protected time and funds, inadequate training were the most significant barriers. Most of these can be addressed.
- Subjects
RANDOMIZED controlled trials; ONCOLOGISTS; EVIDENCE-based medicine; MIDDLE-income countries; ONCOLOGIC surgery
- Publication
Indian Journal of Cancer, 2016, Vol 53, Issue 1, p174
- ISSN
0019-509X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.4103/0019-509X.180865