Aims: Multidisciplinary meetings (MDM) foster collaboration among healthcare professionals and provide an avenue to promote equity for regional patients by improving access to clinical trials. This study aims to assess whether MDM can serve as a platform for identifying appropriate clinical trials for patients, as well as identifying barriers and enablers to accessing a clinical trial in regional Victoria.
Method: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients discussed at cancer specific MDM, hosted by a large regional health service, over a two-year period (June 2022 to June 2024). Data was collected focusing on those patients identified as eligible for clinical trials and tracking their subsequent enrolment to trials, either locally or at metropolitan centre, capturing the reasons for declining participation where stated.
Results: Over the two-year period, a total of 2,421 patients were discussed and of these, 150 patients were identified as eligible for a clinical trial. Subsequently, 32 patients were successfully enrolled in a clinical trial: 20 (62%) were enrolled in an active trial within our Clinical Trial Unit, and 12 (37%) were recruited to a trial conducted at a metropolitan health service. Travel, demand on time and regular trips to a metro centre were the primary reasons noted for declining trial participation, especially when offered at a metro location.
Conclusions: This study emphasises the significant role MDM play in identifying patients eligible for clinical trials. However, the study also highlights numerous barriers that regional patients encounter when trying to access clinical trials. It was noted that there was improved uptake to trials if they were offered locally. Continued efforts to address these barriers are essential to improve patient access to advanced treatment options and increase recruitment success to ensure equity in care, irrespective of location.