Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the barriers and enablers of cancer clinical trial participation among Arabic-speaking cancer patients in Australia: a qualitative study (146111)

Rayan Saleh Moussa 1 , LAYLA EDWARDS 1 , Michael Camit 2 , Christine Jeyachandran 2 , Tim Luckett 1 , Ben Smith 3 , Bernadette Brady 2 4 , Slavica Kochovska 1 5 , Charbel Bejjani 2 , Maria Gonzalez 6 , Nadine El-Kabbout 7 , Arwa Abousamra 2 , Amin Gadalla 2 , Iman za 2 , Randa Kattan 8 , Verena Wu 6 , Wei Chua 2 9 , Karen Wong 2 , Shalini Subramaniam 2 , Gemma McErlean 7 10 , Balwinder Sidhu 2 , Matthew Jennings 2 , Sandra Avery 2 , Deme Karikios 11 12 , Frances Boyle 2 , Wafa Trad 2 , Weng Ng 2 , Stephen DellaFiorentina 2 , Martin Hong 1 2 , Udit Nindra 13 , Meera Agar 1 2 , Abhijit Pal 2 9
  1. IMPACCT, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ulitmo, NSW, Australia
  2. South West Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. Australian centre for Cancer Equity , Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Flinders University , Adelaide, SA, Australia
  6. University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  7. University of Technology Sydney, Ulitmo, NSW, Australia
  8. Arab Council Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  9. Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  10. Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  11. Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Neapean, NSW, Australia
  12. University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  13. Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Shoalhaven, NSW, Australia

Background: People from culturally and ethnically diverse communities are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, contributing to ongoing inequities in access to research and potentially life-extending treatments [1,2]. Previous research has focused on individual-level barriers, with limited attention to how social determinants of health shape participation [3,4]. This study explored healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perspectives on determinants influencing cancer clinical trial participation among Arabic-speaking cancer patients (ASCPs) in Australia.

Methods: A qualitative study using online focus groups and interviews with Australian HCPs experienced in recruiting ASCPs to cancer clinical trials. Recruitment was through professional networks and social media using purposive and snowball sampling. Data analysis used the Best Fit framework approach, guided by the Sociocultural Framework for Health Service Disparities.

Results: Fourteen HCPs participated, including medical specialists, nurses, a clinical trial coordinator, and a researcher. Barriers and enablers were identified across three levels. Structural factors included limited consultation time, lack of translated trial materials, difficulties accessing interpreters, restrictive eligibility criteria, and limited workforce diversity. Healthcare provider factors included language discordance reducing confidence in patients’ understanding of trial information and informed consent processes. Environmental factors included family involvement, research scepticism, and cancer stigma. Family support networks acted as barriers and enablers by facilitating communication, while sometimes influencing patient autonomy. Strategies perceived to support participation included translated resources, interpreter engagement, longer consultations, workforce diversity, cultural competence, and proactive advocacy by HCPs.

Conclusions: Cancer clinical trial participation among ASCPs extends beyond individual factors, reflecting broader environmental and structural-level inequities. Many barriers, though described in terms of language, may represent wider shortcomings in cultural competency within healthcare and research systems. Addressing the barriers through culturally responsive trial design, workforce diversity, interpreter support, and translated resources may improve research inclusivity and equity for Arabic-speaking and other culturally diverse communities.

  1. Heller, C.A., et al., Strategies addressing barriers to clinical trial enrollment of underrepresented populations: a systematic review. J Contemporary clinical trials, 2014. 39 2: p. 169-82.
  2. Smith, A.B., et al., Lower trial participation by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) cancer patients is largely due to language barriers. J Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2018. 14: p. 52 - 60.
  3. Alzubaidi, H., et al., Preference for shared decision-making among Arabic-speaking people with chronic diseases: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 2022. 12(4): p. e058084.
  4. Shaw, J., X. Zou, and P. Butow, Treatment decision making experiences of migrant cancer patients and their families in Australia. Patient Education and Counseling, 2015. 98(6): p. 742-747.