For Researchers - Recruitment and Enrollment
Eligibility
Cancer Survivorship Cohort participants met the following requirements:
- Had an appointment at UNC Health Care in an oncology clinic between April 2010 and August 2016
- Were 18 years of age or older
- Spoke English or Spanish
Recruitment
Participants were enrolled from April 26th, 2010 to August 31st, 2016. Potential participants were identified at the time of patient appointment scheduling from the electronic scheduling system. Eligible patients were approached for enrollment during their visit.
Informed Consent Process
All participants provided informed consent in either English or Spanish prior to participation. Eligible patients typically watched a video on informed-consent that described participation and informed consent and HIPAA documents. Research Assistants (RAs) discuss the consent video with patients and answered questions. UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort participants signed Informed Consent and HIPAA Documents electronically.
To view the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort Consent document, click here.
To view the UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort HIPAA document, click here.
The signed forms are stored securely in UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort electronic records and paper copies of the informed consent and HIPAA documents were given to the participants.
Enrolled participants agreed to the following:
- Interview questionnaires - Interviews were conducted of all participants within a couple of weeks after enrollment. The Baseline Interview included a general questionnaire that was asked across all cancer types and a cancer-specific questionnaire.
- Medical records – Medical records data included clinical information abstracted by the UNC Tumor Registry and supplemental data abstracted by a UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort staff.
- Blood collection and banking - Study participants serum, plasma and DNA samples were processed by the Biospecimen Processing Facility and banked for future research.
- Tissue procurement and banking - Leftover tumor tissue samples taken at the time of surgery were snap frozen, paraffin embedded and banked for future research by the Tissue Procurement Facility.
- Other clinical biospecimens - Any biospecimen collected as part of routine health care for a participant may have been banked for future research.
- Recontact - Study participants agreed to allow UNC Cancer Survivorship Cohort staff to contact them about participation in future studies.
