Translational Health Research is well defined and widely practiced as the “bench-to-bedside” or “discovery to delivery”. The translational continuum includes five phases: basic science discovery, early translation, late translation, dissemination, and adoption. The goal of the Center’s translational health research is to foster collaborative transdisciplinary research infrastructure and capacity in addressing health disparities among all populations and communities.
Use Decision Aid to Engage Patients in Clinical Trial Education and Participation
Clinical trials are a critical resource for the discovery of new prevention, diagnostic and treatment methods for cancer. Clinical trials are an important part of improving quality of health care. However, the impact of clinical trial research may be limited by low participation.
The low participation in clinical trials may be attributed to cultural beliefs and attitudes toward or lack of knowledge about the importance of clinical trial research to the health of the community. In addition, complex consent forms and procedures prevent those who have low health literacy and limited English proficiency from participating clinical trials. Facilitators of participation in cancer prevention and treatment clinical trials have been linked to recommendations by trusted health providers. However, studies indicated that information about clinical trials is not offered to patients by their treating physician.
Our team developed decision aid to engage Asian American and other underserved cancer patients to seek clinical trial education and clinical trial participation for treatment options.
Engage Populations in Precision Medicine and Biospecimen Research Participation
Biospecimen research using samples of blood, tissue, and proteins from body fluids is integral for studies that examine variations in disease risk or characteristics, including variations by race/ethnicity. Low rates of participation in biospecimen research may negatively impact advances in medical research. There is a lack of information about knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors in regard to biospecimen collection and future use for research. Notably, little research has examined the circumstances under which people would be willing to donate biological samples for research.
This dearth of data indicates an urgent need for well-designed studies, with culturally appropriate methods and measures, to establish key determinants of awareness, opportunity, and acceptance of participation in biospecimen research and to develop and implement education programs to increase knowledge, change attitudes and intent, and increase participation in biospecimen research.