Building Patient Trust in Oncology: Overcoming Clinical Trial Mistrust

Increasing clinical trial diversity requires far more than expanding access—it demands a foundation of authentic, hard-earned patient trust. Read the full accompanying article on Oncology Data Advisor: https://oncdata.com/asco-voices-patient-trust At the ASCO Annual Meeting, breast cancer survivor and advocate Megan-Claire Chase took the stage for the prestigious ASCO Voices program to share her personal evolution from a complete clinical trial skeptic to a passionate advocate. In this episode, she sits down with Dr. Jasmin Hundal to discuss how healthcare professionals can improve diversity and health equity in oncology. Together, they outline how to address the deep-rooted historical trauma and community memory behind medical mistrust, dismantle confusing clinical jargon, debunk the oncology placebo myth, and prioritize cultural competency to build genuine patient rapport. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 🔹 Understanding the Roots of Mistrust: Recognizing how historical medical exploitation continues to shape perceptions of research within minoritized communities. 🔹 Ditch the Clinical Jargon: Replacing complex terms like "standard of care" and "randomization" with clear, accessible language that resonates with patients. 🔹 Dismantling the Placebo Myth: Reassuring patients that modern oncology clinical trials do not utilize placebos in place of active cancer therapy. 🔹 Prioritizing Patient Autonomy: Empowering individuals by reinforcing that they are always "in the driver's seat" regarding their own care. 🔹 The Impact of Authenticity: Cultivating cultural competency and leveraging patient-centered storytelling to drive systemic change across healthcare networks.