Patient administrative burden in oncology clinical trials: Results of a national survey.

138 Background: Clinical trial participation is an enduring challenge in oncology. Beyond clinical considerations, several structural factors affect trial accrual, including availability of trials outside major academic centers, concern regarding costs of participation, and time burdens. Patients undergoing treatment for cancer experience substantial demands on their time for both clinical and non-clinical administrative activities. How administrative burden affects patients’ perceptions of clinical trials is unknown. Methods: Administrative burden in cancer care delivery, focused on adults with a new, recurrent, or metastatic cancer diagnosis within the past 12 months for which they are receiving systemic therapy. We administered the survey in April 2025 via the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, a probability-based, nationally representative sample of U.S. households (completion rate = 85%). Responses were weighted to reflect the U.S. population of adults with cancer. Results: In this nationally representative sample of cancer patients treated with systemic therapy for new, recurrent, or metastatic disease (n = 409), we found that 10.3% were currently participating in a clinical trial, 9.6% had participated in a trial in the past, and 7.2% had been invited to participate in a trial but declined. Among respondents who had been offered a trial (whether or not they accepted), 75% said administrative tasks associated with the trial had no effect on their decision to participate; 7.6% said it made them more likely to enter the trial, 12.6% said it made them less likely to enter the trial, and 4.6% were unsure. Among respondents who were or had been enrolled in a trial, 92% said the trial assisted them with administrative tasks. All respondents were asked to consider how administrative tasks associated with trial participation might affect their decision to enroll in a trial in the future: 44.9% said it would have no effect, 9.3% said it would make them more likely to enter a trial; 20.8% said it would make them less likely to enter a trial, and 25.1% were unsure. Conclusions: Concerns about trial-related administrative tasks may affect patients’ decision to enroll in a clinical trial. However, among patients who have been enrolled in a trial, the vast majority reported receiving administrative support. Highlighting administrative support associated with clinical trials may make enrollment more appealing to patients.