Primary care physicians' attitudes, knowledge, and practices related to cancer clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Participation of patients in cancer clinical trials is disappointingly low and several physician-based factors are thought to be responsible. METHODS: In 1998-1999, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) conducted a probability survey of three primary care physician groups to gain a better understanding of the barriers to clinical-trial patient accrual from their perspective. RESULTS: Findings from this survey of 706 primary care physicians indicate that the vast majority (98%) refer their patients with cancer to a specialist for cancer treatment and rarely bring up the topic of cancer clinical trials. Frequently cited reasons for not mentioning clinical trials are preferring to leave that discussion to the oncologist (41%) and being unaware of any clinical trials that may be available for the patient (37%). CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians may represent an important untapped resource for introducing the concept of clinical trials as an option to newly diagnosed cancer patients.