TY - JOUR
T1 - Definition and coordination of roles and responsibilities among cancer center clinic and research personnel
AU - Craddock Lee, Simon J.
AU - Reimer, Torsten
AU - Garcia, Sandra
AU - Williams, Erin L.
AU - West, Mary
AU - Stuart, Tobi
AU - Gerber, David E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - PURPOSE Effective enrollment and treatment of patients in cancer clinical trials require definition and coordination of roles and responsibilities among clinic and research personnel. MATERIALS AND METHODS We developed a survey that incorporated modified components of the Survey of Physician Attitudes Regarding the Care of Cancer Survivors. Surveys were administered to clinic nursing staff and research personnel at a National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center. Results were analyzed using x2-tests, t tests, and analyses of variance. RESULTS Surveys were completed by 105 staff members (n = 50 research staff, n = 55 clinic staff; 61% response rate). Research staff were more likely to feel that they had the skills to answer questions, convey information, and provide education for patients on trials (all P, .05). Both clinic and research staff reported receipt of communication about responsibilities in fewer than 30% of cases, although research staff reported provision of such information in more than 60% of cases. Among 20 tasks related to care of patients in trials, no single preferred model of responsibility assignment was selected by the majority of clinic staff for nine tasks (45%) or by research staff for three tasks (15%). Uncertainty about which team coordinates care was reported by three times as many clinic staff as research staff (P = .01). There was also substantial variation in the preferred model for delivery of care to patients in trials (P, .05). CONCLUSION Knowledge, attitudes, and perception of care and responsibilities for patients on clinical trials differ between and among clinic and research personnel. Additional research about how these findings affect efficiency and quality of care on clinical trials is needed.
AB - PURPOSE Effective enrollment and treatment of patients in cancer clinical trials require definition and coordination of roles and responsibilities among clinic and research personnel. MATERIALS AND METHODS We developed a survey that incorporated modified components of the Survey of Physician Attitudes Regarding the Care of Cancer Survivors. Surveys were administered to clinic nursing staff and research personnel at a National Cancer Institute–designated comprehensive cancer center. Results were analyzed using x2-tests, t tests, and analyses of variance. RESULTS Surveys were completed by 105 staff members (n = 50 research staff, n = 55 clinic staff; 61% response rate). Research staff were more likely to feel that they had the skills to answer questions, convey information, and provide education for patients on trials (all P, .05). Both clinic and research staff reported receipt of communication about responsibilities in fewer than 30% of cases, although research staff reported provision of such information in more than 60% of cases. Among 20 tasks related to care of patients in trials, no single preferred model of responsibility assignment was selected by the majority of clinic staff for nine tasks (45%) or by research staff for three tasks (15%). Uncertainty about which team coordinates care was reported by three times as many clinic staff as research staff (P = .01). There was also substantial variation in the preferred model for delivery of care to patients in trials (P, .05). CONCLUSION Knowledge, attitudes, and perception of care and responsibilities for patients on clinical trials differ between and among clinic and research personnel. Additional research about how these findings affect efficiency and quality of care on clinical trials is needed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079085002&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85079085002&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1200/JOP.19.00315
DO - 10.1200/JOP.19.00315
M3 - Article
C2 - 31589544
AN - SCOPUS:85079085002
SN - 1554-7477
VL - 16
SP - E64-E74
JO - Journal of oncology practice
JF - Journal of oncology practice
IS - 1
ER -