Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41219764›Full record

ArticleTrials2025

A questionnaire study comparing the attitudes of adolescents and young adults (AYA) and older adult cancer patients towards early phase clinical trials.

Eleanor Johnston, Martin McCabe, Louise Carter

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Eleanor JohnstonThe Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. eleanor.johnston3@nhs.net.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-5692-6699
Martin McCabeDivision of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Louise CarterDivision of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAdolescent and young adults (AYA) with cancer are poorly recruited to early phase clinical trials compared to older adult patients, contributing to a slower improvement in survival outcomes. To overcome this, we need to better understand the barriers to recruitment. This study aimed to explore the attitudes of AYA with cancer (aged 16-24) towards clinical trials, compared with those of older patients (aged 25 and over).

methodsThis questionnaire-based study was conducted in a regional cancer centre in North-West England. Participants were eligible if they were previously diagnosed with cancer, and either in follow up, receiving or being considered for treatment. Responses were collected online using the Qualtrics™ tool. The outcome measure was the Cancer Treatment sub-scale of the Attitudes Toward Cancer Trials Scales (ACTS-CT), and nine additional questions as piloted for content and validity by Lewin et al. (2020).

resultsFifty AYA [64% female] and 51 non-AYA [43% female] completed at least part of the questionnaire. At both participation and at initial diagnosis, most AYA respondents were aged 19-24 [62% and 50% respectively], while most non-AYA respondents were 30 or over [88%]. The most common diagnosis in AYA was lymphoma [46%], while in non-AYA it was carcinoma [43%]. Significant differences were observed between AYA and non-AYA participants in the personal benefits (p = 0.000) and personal and social value (p = 0.001) categories, and four of the additional statements including the importance of who approaches the patient (p = 0.000), concerns about the impact of trials on short term (p = 0.005) and long-term goals (p = 0.000), and feeling too overwhelmed to participate in a trial (p = 0.000). No significant differences were found in the personal barriers and safety and trust in the research process categories.

conclusionsUnderstanding the attitudes and concerns of AYA patients is crucial for the development of patient-centered approaches to clinical trial participation in this population. Here, we identified notable differences in the perspectives of AYA versus older patients that can be used to address inequalities in this group.

Indexed as

Clinical Trials as TopicHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeNeoplasmsAdolescentAdultAgedAge FactorsEnglandFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient SelectionSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAcceptabilityAdolescent and young adultsAttitudesCancerClinical trials

Identifiers

PMID41219764
PMCPMC12606790

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.