Associations between race/ethnicity, language, and enrollment on cancer research studies Journal Article


Authors: Ezeoke, O. M.; Brooks, G.; Postow, M. A.; Baxi, S.; Kim, S. Y.; Narang, B.; Diamond, L. C.
Article Title: Associations between race/ethnicity, language, and enrollment on cancer research studies
Abstract: PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in patients' race/ethnicity, preferred language, and other factors were associated with patient enrollment in oncology research studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all adults (>18 and ≤90) seen at a large, metropolitan cancer center from 2005 to 2015, examining if enrollment to a research study, varied by race/ethnicity, preferred language, comorbidities, gender, and age. RESULTS: A total of 233 604 patients were available for initial analysis. Of these, 93 278 (39.9%) were enrolled in a research protocol (therapeutic and non-therapeutic studies). Patients who self-reported their race/ethnicity as Native, Other, Unknown, or Refuse to Answer were less likely to be enrolled on a study. Patients with one or more comorbidities, and those whose preferred language was English, were more likely to be enrolled on a research study. A logistic regression model showed that, although Non-Hispanic Black patients were more likely to have one or more comorbidities and had a higher proportion of their subset selecting English as their preferred language, they were less likely to be enrolled on a study, than our largest population, Non-Hispanic/White patients. CONCLUSIONS: We identified differences in research study enrollment based on preferred language, and within race/ethnicity categories including Native-Populations, Other, Unknown or Refuse to Answer compared to Non-Hispanic/White patients. We also highlighted the lower odds of enrollment among Non-Hispanic/Black patients, in the setting of factors such as comorbidities and English language preference, which were otherwise found to be positive predictors of enrollment. Further investigation is needed to design targeted interventions to reduce disparities in oncology research study enrollment, with particular focus on language diversity. © The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press.
Keywords: adult; retrospective studies; neoplasm; neoplasms; retrospective study; cross-sectional study; cross-sectional studies; language; ethnicity; clinical trials; healthcare disparities; language barriers; humans; human; cancer research studies; language equity
Journal Title: The Oncologist
Volume: 28
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1083-7159
Publisher: Oxford University Press  
Date Published: 2023-02-01
Start Page: 131
End Page: 138
Language: English
DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac218
PUBMED: 36321912
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9907053
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 March 2023 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Michael Andrew Postow
    362 Postow
  2. Shrujal S Baxi
    107 Baxi
  3. Lisa Cari Diamond
    75 Diamond
  4. Marietta Ogochukwu Ezeoke
    6 Ezeoke
  5. Bharat Narang
    30 Narang
  6. Soo Young Kim
    19 Kim