More Blacks Mention God and Spirituality as a Barrier to Clinical Trial Participation

Is illness part of God’s will for your life? A new study presented at the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting has highlighted the significant role of spirituality in Black patients’ decisions about participating in cancer clinical trials. The research found that deep-rooted spiritual beliefs, often influenced by historical experiences of medical mistreatment, contribute to a pervasive distrust of clinical research within the Black community. Historically, clinical trials in the United States have been dominated by White, male participants, leaving Black individuals underrepresented. This lack of representation can have serious consequences, as it limits the generalizability of research findings and hinders the development of treatments that are effective for all populations. Charlyn Gomez, lead study author and medical student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of understanding patients’ perspectives beyond the consent form. She stated, “If we want to improve recruitment, we cannot just talk about trial goals. We have to look beyond that to understand where the patient is coming from and what their priorities are.” The study, conducted at two Baltimore medical centers, surveyed 97 patients who underwent radiation treatment for various cancers. The researchers identified several key factors influencing...