WCLC 2025 - Posters & ePosters-P2.15 .14 Improving Access and Recruitment to Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer Using the Lung I-Act Tool: A Mixed Methods Uk Wide Pilot Study

P2.15 .14 Improving Access and Recruitment to Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer Using the Lung I-Act Tool: A Mixed Methods Uk Wide Pilot Study

Back to course

Pdf Summary

This mixed methods UK-wide pilot study evaluated the Lung I-ACT tool, designed to support lung cancer nurses in discussing clinical trial participation with patients. Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer mortality, has low clinical trial recruitment partly due to nurses’ limited knowledge, awareness, and confidence in engaging patients about trials. The study aimed to develop and pilot the Lung I-ACT tool to address these barriers.<br /><br />Development involved focus groups with 38 healthcare professionals and 22 lung cancer patients exploring obstacles and enablers to trial entry. Findings, combined with a systematic review, informed co-production of the tool. The pilot was conducted across seven UK hospital sites (four intervention, three control) with 34 nurses completing surveys at three intervals over six months, and interviews with 11 nurses and 4 patients at intervention sites.<br /><br />Qualitative framework analysis revealed generally positive feedback from nurses and patients on the tool’s content, presentation, and ease of integration into practice. Nurses noted the tool improved their confidence, knowledge, and awareness related to clinical trials and guided structured, patient-centered discussions. The patient information leaflet helped reduce nurses’ need for extensive trial knowledge. However, persistent barriers remained, including limited time, staffing constraints, and nurse gatekeeping behaviors.<br /><br />Quantitative survey data showed no statistically significant changes over time in nurses’ self-efficacy, but trends suggested improvements in clinical practice and confidence. Overall, the Lung I-ACT tool demonstrated potential to enhance nurses’ ability to support informed patient decisions about trial participation.<br /><br />The study concludes that Lung I-ACT can positively impact lung cancer clinical trial discussions. Future work should adapt the tool for other care settings, cancer types, and underserved populations to improve equitable research access. This research addresses critical gaps in nurse-facilitated recruitment to clinical trials, ultimately aiming to increase patient opportunities for innovative treatments and improved outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Christopher Dodd

Meta Tag

Speaker Christopher Dodd

Topic Multidisciplinary Care: Nursing, Allied Health and Palliative Care

Keywords

Lung I-ACT tool

lung cancer

clinical trial participation

nurse education

mixed methods study

patient-centered communication

clinical trial recruitment barriers

UK pilot study

healthcare professional training

equitable research access