Dr. Monica Patel tests decision-making tool to boost cancer clinical trial awareness
The tool, TrialTALK, was developed by UW researchers using evidence-based strategies
Monica Patel, MD, assistant professor, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, is investigating ways to increase clinical trial participation across different age groups, genders, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who live in rural areas versus cities.
“Particularly for patients with cancer, clinical trials are incredibly important,” Dr. Patel says. “Clinical trials give patients access to cutting-edge therapies, so everyone should have that access, and on the other side, these trials test safety and effectiveness of treatments, so we don’t know how well they will work for some patients until we’ve tested them in all populations.”
Dr. Patel is leading a clinical trial to train more oncologists in TrialTALK, a medical decision-making conversation tool developed by UW researchers using evidence-based strategies. It creates a conversational framework to explain a patient’s diagnosis and map all possible treatment options, including clinical trials, based on the patient’s goals.
“Every conversation is different, you definitely have to adjust for your patients, but it gives you a general framework and allows a more natural discussion,” Dr. Patel says.
Read the full story from UW Health and UW | Carbone Cancer Center.