We’ve established the importance of a diverse clinical trial participant population. But what are the challenges and barriers facing these underrepresented potential participants, and how can we overcome them to benefit everyone?
Through our own research and first-hand experience working within the clinical trial patient recruitment space, we’ve identified three common enrollment barriers for minority populations.
1. Systemic Barriers
Systemic barriers arise from policies and procedures that affect potential participants. These barriers may include failures within the healthcare system to present ongoing clinical trial opportunities and a lack of support, such as funding, for minority investigators. Additional obstacles include the complexities of protocol designs and privacy concerns.
2. Interpersonal Barriers
Interpersonal barriers stem from the interactions between providers and potential participants. This can include implicit biases held by providers, their personal attitudes and beliefs regarding clinical trials, and inadequate training for principal investigators. These factors can lead to significant disparities in access to clinical trials.
3. Personal Barriers
Personal barriers are based on individual perceptions of clinical trials. These may involve misconceptions about the time commitment and trial process or a fear of being used as “guinea pigs,” stemming from historical medical mistreatment of minorities. By providing communication and education tailored to diverse groups, we can more effectively encourage participation.
It’s important to acknowledge that while we’ve generalized some complex challenges, different minority groups—such as Black and African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Latino, and LGBTQIA+ communities—each face unique obstacles that must be addressed.
Strategies for Overcoming Barriers
To address these barriers, our approach focuses on building trust through education, advocacy, and engagement with potential participants.
Education
Making information about clinical trials accessible is crucial. We must educate potential participants in a clear, straightforward manner, helping them understand the process from start to finish and how their involvement could positively impact their lives and the lives of others.
Advocacy
Potential participants need to have open, unbiased conversations with trusted individuals. Healthcare professionals from their own communities or with similar backgrounds can serve as reliable sources, ensuring that participants fully understand their options and can weigh the pros and cons of enrolling.
Engagement
Establishing two-way engagement opportunities with stakeholders, advocacy groups, and healthcare professionals is essential. These relationships must demonstrate a genuine understanding of community complexities and a commitment to the well-being of participants.
Minority communities expect biopharmaceutical companies to prove their dedication to diversifying clinical trials. They expect companies to back their promises with tangible actions, investing in long-term education and engagement rather than short-term study enrollment campaigns.
Building trust with diverse communities will undoubtedly take time, but it is the right thing to do. By reducing enrollment barriers and clearly communicating the value that clinical trials can offer to participants and their communities, we can further our mission to close the gap in health inequity.
At Continuum Clinical, we are committed to continuous learning and guiding our clients to better serve diverse populations. To learn more about our capabilities and our unique approach to clinical trial recruitment and retention, contact us directly at kshore@continuumclinical.com. We are dedicated to making a difference in the world of clinical trials, one inclusive step at a time.
