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Lung Cancer Patients’ Decisions About Clinical Trials and the Theory of Planned Behavior

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Abstract

The theory of planned behavior explores the relationship between behavior, beliefs, attitudes, and intentions presupposing that behavioral intention is influenced by a person’s attitude about the behavior and beliefs about whether individuals, who are important to them, approve or disapprove of the behavior (subjective norm). An added dimension to the theory is the idea of perceived behavioral control, or the belief that one has control over performing the behavior. The theory of planned behavior suggests that people may make greater efforts to perform a behavior if they feel they have a high level of control over it. In this examination of data, we explored the application of the theory of planned behavior to patient’s decisions about participating in a clinic trial. Twelve respondents in this study had previously participated in a clinical trial for lung cancer and nine respondents had declined a clinical trial for lung cancer. The data were analyzed with regard to the four constructs associated with the theory of planned behavior: behavioral intention, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Results indicate that the theory of planned behavior may be a useful tool to examine psychosocial needs in relation to behavioral intention of clinical trial participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC-CANCONT, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Gwendolyn P. Quinn PhD

  2. Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, FOB1, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Christie L. Pratt MA, DHSc, Kathy Bryant-George, Vicki D. Caraway RN, BSN, MBA, Andrea Shaffer ARNP, AOCNP & Charles Williams MD

  3. Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MCC 3rd Floor Clinic, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Bonnie Paternoster RN, BSN, MSN

  4. Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MOD D, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Tere Roldan MA, CT

  5. Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MCC-CHAP, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Cynthia O. Shimizu LCSW, MABMH

  6. Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, SRB-CRSS, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Elizabeth J. Vaughn RN, MS, OCN, CCRC

  7. Karmanos Cancer Center, Detroit, MI, USA

    Gerold Bepler MD PhD

Authors
  1. Gwendolyn P. Quinn PhD
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  2. Christie L. Pratt MA, DHSc
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  3. Kathy Bryant-George
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  4. Vicki D. Caraway RN, BSN, MBA
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  5. Bonnie Paternoster RN, BSN, MSN
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  6. Tere Roldan MA, CT
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  7. Andrea Shaffer ARNP, AOCNP
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  8. Cynthia O. Shimizu LCSW, MABMH
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  9. Elizabeth J. Vaughn RN, MS, OCN, CCRC
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  10. Charles Williams MD
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  11. Gerold Bepler MD PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gwendolyn P. Quinn PhD.

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Quinn, G.P., Pratt, C.L., Bryant-George, K. et al. Lung Cancer Patients’ Decisions About Clinical Trials and the Theory of Planned Behavior. J Canc Educ 26, 641–648 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0169-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0169-8

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