Diversifying Clinical Research Participants

Abstract

The diversification of clinical trial participants to include women and minorities is one of the biggest challenges for the clinical research industry. The lack of diversity in clinical trials prevents the tailoring of healthcare interventions specifically for women and minorities. The purpose of this chapter is to explore how health information technology and online strategies can be applied in the clinical trial research process to increase the recruitment and retention of women and minorities in clinical trials. By examining this issue from both the individual (participant) and clinical stakeholder perspective, appropriate strategies utilizing available technology are proposed. In the health care environment, strategies to diversify clinical trial participants include the secondary use of Electronic Health Records, and disease registries, as well as e-learning to raise awareness and train health professionals and clinical trial staff. In order to recruit diverse participant populations, the use of online advertising, social media, e-newsletters, tablets, smartphones, and apps are detailed. Lessons from previous use of technology in recruitment are outlined as well as future trends. In summary, while there are recognized challenges to implementation, the current health information technology and online strategies available seem promising as methods of increasing the participation of women and minorities in clinical trials.