Something kept confounding Richard Rapoza and his team of clinical affairs experts. Regardless of how his team tried to vary approaches to reach a more diverse set of trial participants, who could potentially benefit from those trials, the data showed that the majority of patients enrolled in many of the clinical trials were white male patients—to the tune of 70%.
For Rapoza, divisional vice president of global product development within our Vascular division, conversations with colleagues across ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and with outside experts often reached similar conclusions:
Yes, the problem was common.
No, there wasn't any one simple solution.
Improving diversity within clinical trials is critical to begin closing gaps in health equity and to better understand the potential benefits of new therapies on a broader range of patients.Ìý
"When considering the care pathway for patients from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, very real barriers exist to helping these patients access and participate in the trials process," said Rapoza. "Each barrier requires a thoughtful approach to developing impactful solutions, but one barrier we have to start focusing on now is producing more diverse clinical researchers that will lead and participate in these clinical trials in the future."
As we explored ways to improve diversity within trials, one immediate need came clearly into focus: increasing the number of physicians, nurses and research coordinators from diverse backgrounds who can lead future clinical trials.
has shown that patients prefer doctors that share their race or ethnicity and that people finding clinicians who share or understand their culture. These challenges can amplify existing trust issues present within many racial or ethnic communities. They can also add to therapy and treatment barriers often seen through the trial process.
"The front lines of the whole research process are the doctors serving as clinical investigators, along with the nurses and the research coordinators who help with the flow of patients into clinical trials," said Rapoza. "But without increasing the number of these clinicians and expanding our ability to bring on new trial sites in areas that will open access to a more diverse patient population, we won’t truly solve the problem."
Support for Diverse Trialists of the Future
Share