CLINICAL NEWS
Do Patients Need Clinical Research Funding, Too?
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It seems that researchers aren’t the only ones who need funding support for clinical research: Lowerincome patients are a third less likely to participate in clinical trials than higher-income patients, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.
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The prospective study looked at clinical trial participation among 1,262 patients at eight cancer clinics in
the six months after their initial diagnosis or recurrence of breast, colorectal, or lung cancer, finding that:
17% with annual household incomes >$50,000 participated in clinical trials
12% with annual household incomes <$50,000 participated in clinical trials
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The clinical trial will often cover the costs of the research treatment or procedure, but there are generally other costs involved with clinical trials participation that are not covered, the authors explained.
These “marginal costs,” such as co-payments, co-insurance for drugs and services, travel costs, and lost
wages, could still be a barrier for lower-income patients.
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household incomes
>$50,000
household incomes
<$50,000
Source: Unger JM, Gralow JR, Albain KS, et al. Patient income level [