Individual abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Understanding patient Recruitment and Retention factors In Non-intervEntional FET-PET In Glioblastoma (FIGURINES) (144597)

Sharon He 1 , Thomas Carlick 1 , Eng-Siew Koh 2 3 , Georgia Halkett 4 , Maja Garcia 5 , Joanne Shaw 1 , Andrew Scott 6 7 , Richard De Abreu Lourenco 8 , Sarah Keats 9 10 , Ryan Appleton 11 , Pooja Panchal 11 , Peter Gorayski 11 , Eva Arneric 12 , Katrin Baur 12 , Aylin Yahya 12 , Nicholas Bucknell 12 , Michelle Nolan 13 , Eden Medway 13 , Stephanie Day 13 , Kylie Jung 13 , Haryana Dhillon 1
  1. Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  2. Liverpool Cancer Centre, Liverpool Hospital, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
  3. South West Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. Curtin School of Nursing/ Curtin Medical Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
  5. University of Notre Dame, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  7. Austin Health, and University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  8. Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  9. Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  10. Liverpool and Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centres, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  11. Department of Radiation Oncology , Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  12. Department of Radiation Oncology , Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
  13. Radiation Oncology Department, Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Background: Brain cancer diagnoses are rare and associated with poor prognoses. Medical imaging is crucial for personalised oncological care. Few studies have examined factors for recruitment and retention in CNS imaging-based non-intervention trials. 

Aims: We explored perspectives of glioblastoma patients, carers, and healthcare professionals (HCP) regarding participation in the “Prospective, multicentre trial evaluating FET-PET in Glioblastoma (ACTRN12619001735145)” (FIG) trial, which is evaluating whether a new approach to imaging (FET-PET scans) leads to more accurate assessment and management of people with glioblastoma. Here we report perspectives from patients and carers.

Methods: Individuals who met eligibility for the FIG trial, both participants and those who declined, were eligible along with a nominated carer. Between November 2024 and March 2026, qualitative interviews were undertaken separately with patients and carers from four FIG trial sites. Semi-structured telephone interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. A subset of patient transcripts were randomly selected and inductively analysed by two research team members to identify preliminary themes and generate an initial framework. The framework was deductively applied to all remaining transcripts.

Results: Seventeen people with glioblastoma and 14 carers were interviewed. Most spoke English (n=29/31, 94%) and took part in FIG (n=26/31, 84%). Seven themes were identified: (1) Perceived risks and benefits of imaging research and impact of competing intervention trials; (2) Perceived ease of and familiarity with scans; (3) Altruistic motivations (“change for future patients” and “supporting brain cancer research”); (4) Timing of research participation discussions; (5) Trust in/influence of clinicians in research decision-making; (6) Logistical and administrative factors; and, (7) Role of carer in decision-making and support.

Conclusions: We identified factors influencing recruitment and retention in non-interventional brain cancer clinical trials. Our study can inform development of decision-support tools and patient-centred approaches, supporting patients in navigating participation and addressing barriers in cancer imaging studies.