The Clinical Trials Navigator (CTN) Program is a pan-Canadian navigation service designed to improve access to cancer clinical trials. Despite promising early results, the program has not been widely implemented. This study examines the perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation from the perspective of individuals with lived cancer experience. Using an adapted Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) interview guide, we conducted 60-min semistructured interviews with 20 people with lived cancer experiences. Data were analyzed using both inductive and deductive coding across the five CFIR domains. Participants identified several facilitators to implementation. Participants expressed strong altruism and a willingness to participate in clinical trials. They felt the program addressed a critical gap in clinical trial access. The program’s centralized, no-cost, and Canada-specific design enhanced its perceived accessibility and trustworthiness. The integration of culturally aligned navigators facilitated effective communication and trust among diverse populations. Key barriers included limited awareness of the CTN Program among the patients and clinicians, as well as financial and logistical challenges to accessing clinical trials. Communication from clinicians about trial opportunities was often inconsistent, leaving many patients unaware of their options unless they actively searched for themselves. People with lived cancer experience in our study identified the CTN Program as a unique intervention with the potential to improve equitable access to cancer clinical trials in Canada. However, successful scale-up will require coordinated efforts to raise awareness, strengthen clinician engagement, and alleviate financial and logistical burdens associated with participating in clinical trials.
Luginaah et al. (Sat,) studied this question.