Trial Information

Ethics Study to Understand the Views of Cancer Patients Regarding Financial Conflicts of Interest in Research

This study seeks to inform deliberation of ethical issues related to financial conflicts of
interest in clinical research through empirical data obtained from patients participating in
cancer studies. In particular, this study endeavors to describe and summarize the views of
patients about both individual and institutional financial conflicts of interest pertaining
to clinical research. This study will assess awareness of financial conflicts of interest
and the current safeguards in place to manage financial ties; assess the impact of
hypothetical financial conflicts of interest on a research subject's decision to participate
in a clinical study; identify the reasons that financial conflicts of interest either do or
do not influence patients' research participation; summarize views regarding the presence of
financial conflicts of interest and what limits should be in place to manage them; identify
interests about disclosure of these financial conflicts of interest; describe demographic
characteristics of subjects enrolled in the survey and evaluate the impact of demographic
information on subjects' views regarding financial conflicts of interest. Participants will
be recruited from all phases of oncology studies being conducted at 5 sites, the National
Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD; the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA; the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA; the University of Colorado Cancer Center
in Denver, CO, and the Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center in New
York, NY. The primary methodology for the study is an in-person administration of a
questionnaire.