UCSF

Context

Older adults with multimorbidity are underrepresented in clinical trials, with enrollment of Asians particularly low.

Objective

Understand perspectives of US Chinese older adults regarding clinical trial participation.

Study design and analysis

Focus group interviews analyzed using thematic analysis.

Setting

Community/senior centers, academic health systems in Northern and Southern California, and a nationwide registry of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.

Population studied

Mandarin- and English-speaking Chinese adults aged ≥ 65 years with multimorbidity.

Outcome measures

Themes related to barriers and facilitators of enrollment in clinical trials of medications.

Results

We conducted 12 focus groups: 7 with non-US-born and 5 with US-born Chinese older adults (n = 83 total). Mean age was 74 years (SD = 5.9), 43 (51.8%) were female, and 47 (56.6%) Mandarin-speaking. US-born participants had greater educational attainment than non-US-born participants. Participants took a mean of 6.1 prescriptions (SD = 1.5). Barriers to participation in clinical trials of medications included lack of awareness of/exposure for patients and community-based Chinese physicians, preference for natural/traditional medicine, risk aversion and safety concerns, desire for privacy, and inconvenience. Trusted influences included physicians, hospitals/health systems, Asian/Chinese community centers, and family (for non-US-born participants). Suggestions to enhance participation included using language and culturally concordant materials/personnel, educating community-based Chinese physicians about clinical trials, involving patient-trusted physicians in recruitment, promoting trials on conditions common in Chinese people or for an existing condition, and financial incentives. US-born participants expressed greater understanding and willingness to join trials. All groups attributed low clinical trial enrollment to non-US-born Chinese adults.

Conclusions

Chinese older adults perceived obstacles to clinical trial participation that could be mitigated by involving trusted physicians in recruitment, using language and culturally concordant materials/staff, and educating patients and community-based physicians. Recognition of differences in attitudes among US- and non-US-born Chinese people may be important to tailoring recruitment strategies.