PURPOSE: Participants' perception of quality of life (QOL) and respondent burden have significant implications for investigators' ethical responsibilities to their subjects in phase I cancer trials. To address these responsibilities, analysis was conducted on participants' views of their experiences of a phase I trial, including the associated burdens and what constitutes QOL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred potential participants of the endostatin trial were surveyed. Sixteen of the 18 trial participants were interviewed extensively about their experiences on the trial. RESULTS: Participants described 'normality' as a baseline ability to function, be productive, and be free from symptoms of disease and side effects of treatment. Reflecting the relative nontoxicity of the study drug, participants contrasted their current QOL with their negative experience of previous cancer treatments and viewed their QOL as fairly good. However, participants emphasized that indirect and procedural burdens of trial participation had a significant impact on their current QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Candid descriptions of a trial's practical demands, in addition to potential physical complications in a trial, could improve the quality of informed consent.
PURPOSE: Participants' perception of quality of life (QOL) and respondent burden have significant implications for investigators' ethical responsibilities to their subjects in phase I cancer trials. To address these responsibilities, analysis was conducted on participants' views of their experiences of a phase I trial, including the associated burdens and what constitutes QOL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred potential participants of the endostatin trial were surveyed. Sixteen of the 18 trial participants were interviewed extensively about their experiences on the trial. RESULTS: Participants described 'normality' as a baseline ability to function, be productive, and be free from symptoms of disease and side effects of treatment. Reflecting the relative nontoxicity of the study drug, participants contrasted their current QOL with their negative experience of previous cancer treatments and viewed their QOL as fairly good. However, participants emphasized that indirect and procedural burdens of trial participation had a significant impact on their current QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Candid descriptions of a trial's practical demands, in addition to potential physical complications in a trial, could improve the quality of informed consent.
Authors: Rebecca D Pentz; Anne L Flamm; Jeremy Sugarman; Marlene Z Cohen; G Daniel Ayers; Roy S Herbst; James L Abbruzzese Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2002-09-15 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Jeffrey S Weber; Laura A Levit; Peter C Adamson; Suanna Bruinooge; Howard A Burris; Michael A Carducci; Adam P Dicker; Mithat Gönen; Stephen M Keefe; Michael A Postow; Michael A Thompson; David M Waterhouse; Susan L Weiner; Lynn M Schuchter Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2014-12-15 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Stacey L Berg; Naomi Winick; Ashish Mark Ingle; Peter C Adamson; Susan M Blaney Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2010-07-15 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Addie C Wootten; Jo M Abbott; Heather M Siddons; Mark A Rosenthal; Anthony J Costello Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2009-12-04 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Patricia A Marshall; Ruth V Magtanong; Angela C Leek; Sabahat Hizlan; Amy D Yamokoski; Eric D Kodish Journal: J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 1.742