Latinas' participation in breast cancer clinical trials

Abstract

The main goal of this study was to understand the socio-cultural factors influencing Latinas' participation in breast cancer control and prevention activities, in particular prevention clinical trials. Guided by the Community Readiness Model data were collected in three phases. First, 19 key informants were interviewed in four communities, two rural and two urban to assess the level of community readiness to encourage participation in breast cancer prevention and control activities. Next, 48 Latinas over the age of 50 participated in focus groups to further examine the perceptions and barriers of breast cancer prevention in each community. Lastly, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted in each community to obtain information not collected from the key informants and the focus group participants. Results demonstrated that Latinas had minimal awareness of breast cancer prevention activities and that communities were in low levels of readiness to address this issue. Feelings of distrust and fear influenced Latinas' decision to not participate in breast cancer prevention activities and in particular, chemoprevention clinical trials. Several systemic factors were identified that contribute to low recruitment and retention in clinical trials. Implications of the findings of this study are discussed and recommendations for how to heighten awareness of breast cancer prevention in these communities and increase participation in clinical trials are offered.