Income, property ownership and financial stability — not race or demographics — had the strongest correlation with cancer clinical trial participation, according to a study published Dec. 17 in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals, both based in Cleveland, analyzed data from more than 12,000 cancer patient EHRs for the study.
As solutions to financial burdens, the study authors suggested “reimbursement programs for travel and lodging expenses, compensation for lost wages during treatment, childcare assistance for parents in trials and transportation vouchers or services,” according to a Dec. 18 news release from University Hospitals.
Researchers are now integrating University Hospitals’ clinical trial data with that from Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth in the Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System. They plan to publish a map of clinical trial deserts in early 2026.
Read the full study here.
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