Abstract
BACKGROUND: Ethnic differences in physicians' attitudes and behaviors related to clinical trials might partially account for disparities in clinical trial participation among Latino patients. Literature regarding Latino physicians' clinical trials attitudes and practices, in comparison to White physicians, was lacking. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from randomly selected physicians (N=695), stratified by ethnicity, were analyzed to test associations of ethnicity with physicians' participation in and attitudes toward referral of patients to clinical trials. RESULTS: Chi-square analyses showed significant (p<0.05) associations of physician race/ethnicity and clinical trials involvement, type of trial for which the physician is likely to recommend a patient, belief in scientific value, and factors that would influence recommendation for a patient to participate. Multivariate analyses resulted in several significant (p<0.05) predictors of clinical trials outcomes, including physician race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: Latino physicians were significantly less involved in clinical trials than White physicians and found less scientific value in them, highlighting areas for future education and intervention.