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Welcome to the July issue of the Clinical Research Connection. We value the partnership we have with our affiliate network and hope this newsletter will provide an opportunity for enhanced communication and interaction, and advance our collective strength in the area of oncology research.
Please send your feedback and suggestions to Vera Jackson at affiliates@northwestern.edu.
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Lisa Stucky-Marshall, RN, MS, AOCN, finds her work as Gastrointestinal Oncology Research Nurse Coordinator at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University at Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation (NMFF) both challenging and rewarding. "It's a privilege to have this role that was created by Northwestern's GI Oncologists. I've always loved working with clinical trials and this position incorporates many of the aspects I most enjoy: GI oncology, patient care, clinical trials and working with a wide range of people," she says.
Marshall, an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), has over 15 years of GI Oncology-related experience at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, NMFF, and in a community setting. The objective of her current role is to:
- Facilitate accrual to GI clinical trials by screening schedules to identify potential patients, and serving as an "on-site resource" to expedite the process for oncologists and Nurse Practitioners
- Coordinate testing for patients interested in enrolling in a clinical trial, as well as ongoing education and reinforcement of the process with patients and families
- Ensure that all components of a trial are being followed correctly and at appropriate time intervals, and serve as a clinical resource to Clinical Research Associates (CRA)
- Serve as a resource to Infusion Nurses administering treatments
Nationally, only a small percentage of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials each year. Marshall is able to positively impact patient accrual by minimizing some of the barriers that physicians encounter, such as the time it takes to explain trials, obtain consents and coordinate care with multiple disciplines. The addition of correlative studies to clinical trials can be of great benefit, but they add another level of complexity.
"There is still a stigma associated with clinical trials, even in patients seeking care at academic centers," says Marshall. "In this position I can help patients and families better understand the importance of trials in oncology care, and provide them with a personal connection in a system that might otherwise feel overwhelming. We can alleviate some of the myths associated with trials, such as the fear of being a 'guinea pig.' A typical office visit doesn't allow enough time for the thorough explanation I believe patients need," she adds. "I can spend more time during an appointment, and schedule additional appointments or follow up phone calls, if needed to clarify the information."
Distance can also be a barrier to patient enrollment in cancer clinical trials when patients want to participate but are unable to travel. Marshall coordinates care with affiliate sites involved in a trial so that patients have access to state-of-the-art care closer to home, and regularly works with social workers to arrange housing for patients receiving intensive therapy at Northwestern's medical campus. Marshall's position has resulted in the removal of some of the barriers, and consequently, a significant increase in patient accrual to GI trials. As a result, positions similar to Marshall's have been developed within the Lymphoma and Thoracic Oncology Programs.
Marshall is actively involved with the ECOG Nursing Committee, and serves as study contact for two ECOG GI trials. She is a member of the NCCN Antiemesis Panel, the Clinical Research Office of the Lurie Cancer Center's Audit Committee for intramural trials, and the NMFF Safety / Quality Committee. "It's exciting to see what has developed in GI Oncology in recent years, all due to clinical trials," Marshall says. "I enjoy working with our team of nationally and internationally known physicians who are often the Principal Investigators of the studies, and am fortunate to work with great Infusion Nurses and Clinical Research Associates." She values the opportunities she has for continuity of care throughout a clinical trial, and building meaningful relationships with patients and families. "That's why I chose oncology," she says. "It can be gut-wrenching at times, but our patients are so grateful for so little. They are what keep me going in this field that can sometimes be quite sad. "
Contact Marshall at
Lisa.Marshall@nmff.org
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