AccrualNet™: A Unique Resource for Clinical Trial

Professionals

NCI Office of Cancer Centers Learning Series

March 21, 2013

Speakers

Linda Parreco, RN, MSPublic Health AdvisorOffice of Partnerships and Dissemination InitiativesNCI, Office of Communications and Education

Ellen Richmond, RN, MSNurse Consultant and Program DirectorGI and Other Cancers Research GroupNCI, Division of Cancer Prevention

Annette Galassi, RN, MA, OCNPublic Health AdvisorOffice of Partnerships and Dissemination InitiativesNCI, Office of Communications and Education

Objectives• Describe how clinical trial accrual

affects you• Find one opportunity to implement

AccrualNet into your practice• Explain how AccrualNet’s

Community of Practice supports your work

Our Common Goal

• Move science and medicine forward• Improve public health• Complete trials in a timely fashion

Accrual to Clinical Trials

• Magnitude and impact of insufficient accrual

• Persistent, but well-documented challenges

• There are solutions– Growing body of evidence– Focused attention– Everyone plays a role

Durivage, Bridges. J Clin Oncol 27: 15s, 2009

Cancer Center Director–Need to demonstrate a successful scientific program

BUT…..14 cancer centers; 2005-200754.2% of 2685 studies did not accrue ANY patients

Accrual is Everyone’s Challenge

Durivage, Bridges. J Clin Oncol 27: 15s, 2009Kitterman, Cheng, Dilts, Orwoll. Acad Med. 86(11), 2011

Cancer Center AdministratorNeed to demonstrate effective use of scarce resources

BUT…..– 3773 hours/year devoted to studies that

accrue no patients – $1M: FY2009 economic impact of low-

enrolling studies

Accrual is Everyone’s Challenge

Penberthy, Dahman, Petkov, DeShazo. J Oncol Pract 8:6, 2012

Principle Investigator – Produce an approved protocol that works in

the real world of clinics and patientsCTO Manager

– Incomplete studies squander screening costs– How do you ensure recruitment

knowledge/skill, acknowledge success, support career development?

Accrual is Everyone’s Challenge

Accrual is Everyone’s Challenge

Study Coordinator/Research Nurse/CRA– Recruitment strategies

• Evidence-based vs Tradition– What about new strategies like social media?– Opportunities to attend conferences, training

are decreasing– Working in silos

Accrualnet.cancer.gov

AccrualNet

What is AccrualNet?

A “one-stop shop” to help clinical trial professionals:

• Discover effective accrual strategies• Locate useful tools and sample materials • Find staff and patient education resources• Connect with colleagues

https://accrualnet.cancer.gov

The Protocol Accrual Lifecycle

The Protocol Accrual Lifecycle

The Protocol Accrual Lifecycle

LITERATURE & TOOLS

Literature & Tools

1. Consider national and local stakeholder enthusiasm for the trial

2. Evaluate the trial for recruitment feasibility

3. Choose study sites carefully 4. Prepare trial-specific materials

Development Stage Strategies/Checklist/Best Practices

Most relevant information

Link to the abstract / PDF

Title and citation

Share with colleagues

AccrualNet Resource Pages

Highlights

Why this item might be usefulDetails

Find Most Relevant Information

Find Useful Tools

Get The Facts On Insurance Issues

Related Practical Tools

• You can comment on the content

“I thought this was a great article. We tried one of the ideas and here’s how it worked…”

Comments Please

• Easily searchable• Promising practices

– Basic principles and checklists– Uniquely abstracted – Links to the evidence

• Published papers • Tools of the trade

– Screening logs– Flyer templates– Media guides

Implementing AccrualNet: Literature & Tools

5 minutes: find info

YOU can use!

Sample articles

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Education and Training

• We heard that you:– Experience significant staff turnover– Spend a lot of time on training– Feel like you may be re-inventing the wheel– Need readily available, credible information

and tools

Protocol Accrual Lifecycle

Education & Training

Staff Education

Sample Resource Page

Patient Education

Implementing AccrualNet: EDUCATION

• Orientation for new staff • New researchers • Professional development• Facilitate use of evidence-based

interventions related to accrual• Patient education

Announcing…Journal Club

• Quarterly webinar• Tor review findings of recently published

articles and discuss application to practice• Brief presentation followed by discussion• Target launch end of April• E-mail invite to AN members

Already have great tools?

SHARE them with the AccrualNet community!

Contribute your materials

COMMUNITIES & CONVERSATIONS

The AccrualNet Community

Virtual Community of Practice

Benefits for You

• Overcomes geographic barriers• No financial investment • Reduces staff isolation• Engagement stimulates enthusiasm, focus

on overcoming the hurdles• Human motivators: recognition and

acknowledgment!

Who’s in our Community• Location

– 30% academic– 48% community

• Roles– 31% managers– 66% CRA, SC, RN

• Experience– 41% >10 years – 25% < 5 yrs

386 members

Your Top 5 Areas of Interest• Recruitment• Community outreach• Communication strategies• Training and education• Site management

Ask a question

Share your experience

Quickly find topics of interest

What’s Happening in the Community?Conversations

What’s Happening in the Community?Monthly Guest Expert

Join or start a Community• Protocol• Population• Sub-specialty• Career phase• Organization

Start Your Own Community on AccrualNet!

Now What?

• AccrualNet puts valuable information at your fingertips

• AccrualNet helps you train staff• AccrualNet is a Community of Practice

You’ve Learned 3 Things

Lead the Way

• SAY the message “AccrualNet is a valuable resource”

• GIVE an example“This article must have been written for us!”• MAKE the expectation

“We will use it to plan accrual”• CLAIM success

“Here’s what we did—and it worked!”

AccrualNet ToolKit

• One page flyer to post in clinic• Drop-in article for your newsletter• Presentation slides with speaker notes • Social media posts for your Facebook

page

• UTSA

• Oregon Health Sciences

• Fred Hutch

• Mayo

• Case Western

Put the ‘Share Button’ on your site!

We’re here to help you

Linda ParrecoEllen RichmondAnnette Galassi

Cathy MuhaSona ThakkarHarry Kwon

Cassie NormanKatherine JenkinsMadeline LaPorta

https://accrualnet.cancer.govHave you looked on accrualnet?