APP Mentorship Model Improves Clinical Trial Accrual and Minority Participation in Community Oncology Setting
A formal mentorship initiative demonstrated promising results in improving accrual to supportive care clinical trials and increasing participation among minority populations through the engagement of advanced practice providers (APPs) and clinical research coordinators (CRCs), according to results from a study published in Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology.
The accessibility, diversity, and recruitment success of clinical trials have historically been limited and could benefit from new measures to improve. Researchers created a structured mentorship program in efforts to improve APP mentorship and clinical research support which included participation from 6 APPs and 3 CRCs over a 1-year period at 2 community oncology sites.
The mentorship program launched with an introductory session, followed by weekly team meetings focused on screening and enrollment, as well as monthly meetings to discuss any problems or hardships and best practices.
During the mentorship period, 26 unique patient accruals were recorded across the participating sites, with a reported increase in minority representation. All 6 APPs are actively enrolling patients to trials, and 4 have begun participating in protocol review for feasibility and scientific merit within the Hawai‘i Minority/Underserved NCORP. Additionally, 8 participating team members found the model to be both feasible and acceptable.
The researchers concluded, “This project has the potential to be replicated at other sites if there is an APP mentor available and a supportive infrastructure in place.”
They added, “Increasing the role APPs play in clinical research provides opportunities to expand clinical activities at rural and underserved sites where the APP may be the primary oncology provider.”
Source:
Marie Braun-Inglis, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AOCNP C, Springer, MSN, APRN-Rx, AGPCNP-BC A, Ferguson, MSN, APRN-Rx, FNP-C, AOCNP® V, et al. Oncology advanced practice provider mentorship and paired clinical research coordinator support to enhance accrual to NCI supportive care trials. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology. Published online June 25, 2025. doi:10.6004/jadpro.2025.16.7.18
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