Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Addressing inequity of access to cancer clinical trials for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer: Menzies School of Health Research consultancy report for the ReViTALISE project, 2022   (#140)

Monica Green 1 , Joan Cunningham 1 , Javier Torres 2 3 , Donna Long 4 5 , Clare O'Reilly 6 , Carole Mott 3 , Cynthia Scott 3 , Karen Matheson 3 , Leah Lindrea 7 , Cynthia Scott 3 , John Davies 3 , Ronald James 3 , Shannon Drake 8 , Craig R Underhill 4 9 10 11
  1. Menzies School of Health Research , Darwin, NT, Australia
  2. The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
  3. Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton, Vic, Australia
  4. Border Medical Oncology Research Unit, Albury, NSW, Australia
  5. Regional Trials Network Victoria, Albury-Wodonga, Australia
  6. Victoria Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Naarm, Victoria, Australia
  7. University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia
  8. Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative , Kanny-goopna, Victoria, Australia
  9. Latrobe University, Wodonga, Vic, Australia
  10. UNSW School of Clinical Medicine, Rural Clinical Campus, Albury, NSW, Australia
  11. Medical Oncology, Albury-Wodonga Health, Albury-Wodonga, Australia

Aims

The ReViTALISE program, funded by the Medical Research Futures Fund, aims to improve access to clinical trials (CTs) in regional Victoria. Menzies School of Health Research was commissioned to undertake a report for the ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People* with Cancer - Clinical Trial Access Initiative’ Steering Committee (SC), to inform planning and implementation of this initiative. The SC includes consumers who are Aboriginal people, non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal health care workers and researchers.

*hereafter respectfully referred to as Aboriginal people

Methods

This report builds on a Desktop Review1 published by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation by updating key principles and guidelines relevant to the ReViTALISE project, conducting a literature review and synthesising strategies that may increase Aboriginal people’s access to CTs.

Results

Barriers to the full participation of Aboriginal people in CTs relate to study design, gate-keeping, and mistrust of research and health institutions.

 

The literature reported many strategies devised to address the barriers. Consistent themes emerged, with commonalities between Australian and international literature including the centrality of addressing mistrust of research and health institutions and recognising the culturally bound nature of healthcare for Aboriginal people.

 

The authors developed a conceptual framework of critical strategies that have been reported as successful including: the meaningful involvement of Aboriginal people and organisations from the beginning; improved reporting of Indigenous status; overcoming gate-keeping and addressing key aspects of study design.

 

After review and feedback from SC, a consumer summary of the consultancy report was developed and approved by the SC, to provide an overview of the report in a concise and understandable format. 

 

Conclusion

The report2 provides an important foundation for the ReViTALISE program to improve CT access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Cancer and will inform other programs of strategies to improve research design.

 

 

  1. Cunningham, J, Green, M, Jaenke, R & Garvey, G 2021, Desktop Review to consolidate the knowledge and evidence for three priority issues in the cancer care system: 1) Improving Aboriginal participation in clinical trials and research; 2) Improving culturally safe and effective cancer treatment for Aboriginal people with cancer; and 3) Improving Aboriginal people’s self-identification and the quality of cancer data. Report prepared for VACCHO by the Menzies School of Health Research, July 2019. Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and Menzies School of Health Research, Melbourne.
  2. Green M and Cunningham J, 2022. Consultancy Report to inform the Steering Committee of the ReViTALISE Project: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Cancer - Clinical Trial Access Initiative. Report prepared for Border Medical Oncology Research Unit by the Menzies School of Health Research, March 2022. Border Medical Oncology Research Unit, Albury Wodonga, and Menzies School of Health Research, Melbourne.