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Kimberly (Cary) Demirhan concludes a three-part series on bringing cancer research to the community setting.
Kimberly (Cary) Demirhan concludes a three-part series on bringing cancer research to the community setting.
This conclusion to a three-part series on bringing cancer research to the community setting features Kimberly (Cary) Demirhan, a registered nurse, in an interview with CURE.
Demirhan discusses strategies for engaging underrepresented communities in cancer research, emphasizing the importance of building trust, making clinical trials culturally relevant, and maintaining transparency throughout the enrollment process.
She is the assistant director of Education Programs at the Association of Cancer Care Centers and works as a PRN Heart Transplant nurse at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, located in Washington, D.C.
Demirhan: There was a summit last October where we brought in a wide variety of people to talk about this and how to build trust. I think the key word there is “build.” Trust isn't just given; it has to be earned over time. We have to keep that concept in our minds as we look to connect with underrepresented communities that have historically been mistreated or haven't had the best experience with the healthcare community.
Our take is to start engagement well before diagnosis, especially when we focus on clinical trials. This means partnering with community leaders, faith-based groups and local organizations to raise awareness about what clinical trials are, what they mean and who might need them. This education helps those communities learn about clinical trials long before they might need one so it becomes a part of their standard knowledge. They can see it as an option for them, a loved one or their child if they ever get sick. Clinical trials shouldn't be seen as a scary thing but as a powerful tool to help treat patients where they are.
A couple of other things we can work on to build trust are ensuring our trial materials are culturally relevant and language-appropriate. For example, if the community I work in is primarily Spanish-speaking, I want to ensure all my resources, including my consent forms and anything related to that trial, are translated into Spanish. This way, they understand at the same level as the English-speaking patient population.
Lastly, we need to be transparent throughout the process. Enrolling a patient in a clinical trial isn't a sales opportunity; it's a genuine conversation about the risks and benefits of joining. We need to be honest about what they can expect and why it may or may not be better than what is currently offered on the market. It's also important to involve patients and communities in the trial's design to understand what is important to them and what might limit their participation. By taking this feedback into account from the beginning, the trials will be built for them and what they are looking for when it comes time for them to enroll. This makes the trials feel less like a stretch from what is normal or what they are used to.
I would like to end with a call to action. ACCC and ACorI are focused on bringing groups together to solve these barriers to clinical trial access. As listeners, we encourage you to talk about clinical trials with your physicians, other healthcare professionals and your families. Discuss what it would mean for you to be in a clinical trial so you can begin to understand the process now.
You should also talk to the organizations you're involved with and your professional societies. While many are looking at clinical trials and these barriers, ACCC is focused on bringing those groups together so we can make incremental change together over time.
I am available to everyone; I love to talk to patients and organizations. I want to ensure we are all working together in a community-based format to make a difference.
Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness
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