Enrolments in cancer clinical trials as a proportion of cancer incidence
Why this indicator is important
Clinical trials are research studies involving people who volunteer to test new ways to treat, care, and improve people’s health. Successful clinical trials can lead to new treatments and care for patients.[1]
For some people with cancer, clinical trials offer the best option for effective care, treatment and support.[2] However, improvements are needed in access and participation across clinical trials:[2]
- Enrolment rates into cancer clinical trials are lower for people living in regional/remote areas of NSW.[1] In the 2022-2023 financial year major cities accounted for 82.9% of clinical trial enrolments.[3]
- There is lower participation in cancer clinical trials among Aboriginal communities and other focus populations, including multicultural communities and lower socioeconomic groups. [1,2]
- In addition, disruptions to the healthcare sector, such as COVID-19 and flooding events, have impacted access to cancer clinical trials in the last four years.[1]
Ratio of enrolments to cancer incidence (per 100 cases), by local health district of treatment, 2021-2022 FY and 2022-2023 FY
About this indicator
This indicator shows the rate of enrolment into a clinical trial per 100 cancer cases.
- For every 100 people diagnosed with cancer in NSW, there were 5.4 enrolments in a cancer clinical trial in 2022–2023 FY. This was an increase from 4.9% in 2021-2022 FY.
N = Average annual incident cancer cases, 2018-2020
Notes
1. Data sources: Cancer Institute NSW Clinical Trials Portal and NSW Cancer Registry (incident cases).
2. Cancer incidence is determined by the local health district of residence, while clinical trial enrolments are derived from the local health district where the clinical trial participant was recruited.
3. The ratio is derived from the number of enrolments into cancer clinical trials divided by the number of incident cancer cases in 2018–2020 by local health district. This has been multiplied by 100 to give the ratio per 100 incident cancer cases.
4. All Private/Non-Government institutions, specialty health networks, and children's hospitals have been grouped in the local health district in which they reside.
References
1. Cancer Institute NSW. Reporting for Better Outcomes. Annual statewide report, 2022. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, 2022.
2. Cancer Institute NSW. NSW Cancer Plan 2022–2027. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, 2022.
3. Cancer Institute NSW. NSW Cancer Clinical Trial statistics [Internet]. Sydney: Cancer Institute NSW, 2022 [cited 8th March 2024]. Available from: https://www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/research-and-data/cancer-data-and-statistics/data-available-now/cancer-statistics-nsw/nsw-cancer-clinical-trial-statistics
