Prostate Cancer Health Education Network (PHEN) Clinical Trial Learning Sessions (CTLS): Increasing engagement of Black men in prostate cancer research through a patient-focused, personalized education tool.

145 Background: Black men represent only 6.7% of patients enrolled in therapeutic prostate cancer (PCa) clinical trials. Low levels of knowledge and lack of awareness are the most substantial patient-specific barriers to participation. Our aim was to develop and implement a personalized education tool effectively bridging the gap between Black patients with PCa and healthcare providers while improving attitudes regarding clinical trial participation. Methods: Leveraging a novel collaboration between the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), a well-established advocacy group for Black men with PCa, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), PHEN-Clinical Trials Learning Sessions (CTLS) were developed. Black PCa patients were recruited from MSKCC and the PHEN network to participate in PHEN-CTLS via telephone and radio advertisement. Pre- and post-CTLS surveys collected demographic/clinical data, patient satisfaction scores as well as knowledge and attitudes regarding clinical research. Results: PHEN-CTLS were successfully developed as 90-minute, interactive Zoom webinars focusing on general clinical research topics and PCa specific material highlighting MSKCC clinical trials and PROMISE, a decentralized PCa genetic registry. A total of 78 men attended the MSKCC affiliated PHEN-CTLS, performed on 2 separate dates. Due to suboptimal survey completion during session one, the following data analysis is limited to the 22 participants who returned both surveys during session two. Demographic and disease characteristics were as follows: 55% age 61 – 70 years, 59% married, $50,000 – $100,000 median annual income, 68% college or post-graduate educated, 48% with a known family history of PCa, 50% diagnosed more than 10 years prior, and 63% localized disease state. All men who never participated in a clinical trial reported the primary reason for not doing so being that “no one spoke to them about the option”. Clinical trial knowledge and perceptions improved in response to PHEN-CTLS: 50% vs 83% (and 45% vs 81%) “agree/strongly agree” informed of potential benefits (and risks) of clinical trial participation and 64% vs 100% “agree/strongly agree” willing to participate in a clinical trial (pre- vs post-CTLS survey). Conclusions: Combining expert educational content development, grassroots patient advocacy, and academic research excellence, PHEN-CTLS is the first education program of its kind. The intervention is feasible, and an effective means to improve patient knowledge of, attitudes toward, and a willingness to participate in clinical trials. Next steps in development will include, expanding participant numbers and geographic diversity, broadening survey questions and evaluating effect on PROMISE and PCa clinical trial enrollment.