People from Arabic-speaking communities can face barriers to taking part in cancer clinical trials, including language, cultural, and system challenges.
This project aimed to improve access and make participation more equitable. In the first initiative of its kind in Australia, researchers worked with Arabic-speaking patients, carers and cancer professionals to design an Arabic Bilingual Trial Navigator (BTN) model, with community members helping to shape the program at every stage.
The project involved three phases. First, researchers spoke with 14 cancer clinicians and 25 Arabic-speaking patients and carers through interviews, focus groups and workshops to identify barriers and opportunities for improving trial participation. These findings were used to develop a culturally tailored training program for bilingual trial navigators in phase 2. In phase 3, trained navigators worked in cancer services at Liverpool and Bankstown-Lidcombe hospitals. They provided culturally appropriate support, helped build trust, and assisted patients to make informed decisions about clinical trial participation.
The pilot showed that the model was practical and well accepted. 68% of eligible patients consented to participate and 13 patients completed the navigation program. The project also improved readiness to take part in research.
