ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Enrollment rates onto cancer clinical trials are low and reflect a small subset of the population of which even fewer participants come from populations of racial or ethnic diversity or low socioeconomic status. There is a need to increase enrollment onto cancer clinical trials with a focus on recruitment of a diverse, underrepresented patient population. OBJECTIVE: To use the electronic medical record (EMR) to understand the eligibility and enrollment rates for all available cancer trials in the ambulatory care setting at an urban safety net hospital to identify specific strategies for enhanced accrual onto cancer clinical trials of diverse and underserved patients. METHODS: A clinical trial screening note was created for the EMR by the clinical trials office at an urban safety net hospital. 847 cancer clinical trial screening notes were extracted from the EMR between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. During that time, 99 cancer trials were registered for accrual, including clinical treatment, survey, data repository, imaging, and symptom management trials. Data on eligibility, enrollment status, and relationship to sociodemographic status were compared. LIMITATIONS: This is a single-institution and retrospective study. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate that a formal process of tracking cancer clinical trial screens using an EMR can document baseline rates of institution-specific accrual patterns and identify targeted strategies for increasing cancer clinical trial enrollment among a vulnerable patient population. Offering nontreatment trials may be an important and strategic method of engaging this vulnerable population in clinical research.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A regional state university and three health care organizations formed a regional education- service partnership to expand the implementation of the Massachusetts Nurse of the Future Nursing Core Competencies (NOFNCC) across the academic-practice transition. METHOD: Using a conveienience sample in a one- group preteos-posttest design, the study examined the extent to which transitioning new licensed nurses and their preceptors were knowledgeable regarding NOFNCC as a basis for practice, and assessed changes following an educational intervention. A newly developed instrument based on NOFNCC, the Nurse Competency Assessment Tool (NCAT), served as the measurement: tool. RESULTS: Findings indicate knowledge gaps in system- based practice, quality improvement, and evidence- based practice among both transitioning newly licensed nurses and preceptor groups in need of improvement. CONCLUSION: NOFNCC identify essential knowledge, attitudes, and skills integral to providing safe quality nursing care not only in Massachusetts but also nationally and globally. Need for continued refinement of the NCAT was also apparent.
