Objectives
The Australia New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG) has strategized to enable greater access for gynaecological cancer patients to clinical trials by strengthening referral pathway data of its affiliated clinical trial sites by overlaying existing contemporaneous diagnostic health data to allow the identification of clusters of gynaecological cancer patients. It will utilise the combined data to create an interactive map – TREETOP - that ANZGOG and its members can use to determine optimal health networks for clinical trial site selection and enable wider trial participation by its patient populations.
Sample and setting
ANZGOG collaborates with 80 clinical trial sites across Australia and New Zealand who conduct/have conducted gynaecological cancer clinical trials.
Procedures
Digital surveys were shared with 80 of ANZGOG’s affiliated hospital/clinical sites in Australia and New Zealand that detailed individual site capacity, capability and patient referral information.
Results
Fifty-five sites (~70%) have provided responses to date. ANZGOG now understands the way that gynaecological cancer patients are referred to, and across, hospital health networks for treatment in Australia and New Zealand, thereby identifying where clinical trial opportunities may intersect with these referral pathways.
Conclusions
A key outcome of the development of TREETOP will be its synergy with the Australian Teletrial Program (ATP). Together, the two programs will enable patients with gynaecological cancer access to treatment offered through ANZGOG’s clinical research program closer to where they reside. Specifically, the TREETOP platform will allow ANZGOG investigators to identify where opportunities exist based on capacity and need. It will also allow clinical trials to be opened at smaller satellite sites, with assistance from larger tertiary centres or primary sites. ANZGOG will work with the ATP to achieve the aim of the program: making clinical trials for new novel drugs, technologies, and models of care more accessible to regional, rural and remote communities.