American Lung Association Launches Campaign to Improve Lung Cancer Care for Port St. Lucie’s Hispanic Community

Diversity and representation in clinical trials leads to better treatment options for all. Yet Hispanic individuals account for only 1 percent of clinical trial participants. Hispanic individuals deserve to benefit from the cutting-edge therapies clinical trials may offer. That’s why the American Lung Association is expanding its Awareness, Trust and Action campaign to Port St. Lucie to raise awareness of clinical trials, address misconceptions and empower patients and caregivers. The goal of the program is to improve lung cancer care and outcomes for Hispanic communities locally and across the U.S.

Clinical trials are highly monitored research studies that try to find new and better ways to prevent, detect or treat a disease like lung cancer. Sometimes, clinical trials offer the most appropriate treatment option for a lung cancer patient, potentially saving or extending the participant’s life.

“In the past decade, clinical trials have played a crucial role in advancing lung cancer research and improving survival rates. Unfortunately, Hispanic participants are greatly underrepresented, and this campaign brings awareness to this important issue,” said Dr. Frank J. Eidelman, member of the Lung Association’s South Florida Board. “Not only do trial participants benefit from the latest science and treatments, but researchers can better understand how lung cancer treatments work in different populations. Ultimately, clinical trials can give all lung cancer patients better, lifesaving treatments.”

The Awareness, Trust and Action campaign seeks to:

• Raise awareness among Hispanic lung cancer patients/caregivers (as well as the larger Hispanic community) about the availability and importance of clinical trials as a treatment option for lung cancer;
• Address misconceptions and mistrust around clinical trials and convey their value as a potential treatment option; and
• Empower Hispanic individuals to take action by talking with their doctors about lung cancer clinical trials.

The Lung Association conducted interviews of both physicians and patients to identify challenges regarding Hispanic individuals and clinical trial enrollment. These interviews revealed these common themes:

• There is a need for clear, thorough and culturally appropriate education about clinical trials in the Hispanic community.
• More investment and buy-in from community stakeholders are needed, particularly those
  involved with the patient’s health, to improve enrollment and retention in clinical trials.
• There is some mistrust of the medical system, and specifically pharmaceutical companies, so it is important for healthcare providers to acknowledge the history of medical mistreatment in the Hispanic community, including the news-worthy cases and the care issues that exist in today’s world.
• There is a need for healthcare providers to discuss what the impact of the clinical trial participation will be and follow through on communication of that impact.

Learn more about the Awareness, Trust and Action campaign here. (Leer en español.)

Support for this project provided in part by Genentech and Roche.