Main Street, USA Enrollment: Community Hospital Recruitment Strategies for Diverse and Equitable Selection of Pregnant Participants in a Prospective Cohort Study [ID: 1377833

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The same factors contributing to disproportionately worse health outcomes are also barriers to inclusion in research for Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous patients. In this subanalysis of a large, multisite prospective cohort study of maternal plasma mRNA signatures and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), we sought to determine whether equitable representation was aided by the inclusion of a large community hospital as an enrollment site. METHODS: Pregnant persons between 18 and 45 year old with a singleton pregnancy eligible to enroll in this IRB-approved prospective cohort study at Woman’s Hospital (Baton Rouge, Louisiana). A hybrid of indirect and direct recruitment strategies, bolstered by text message communication and gift card compensation, were deployed to facilitate enrollment that mirrored the community’s diversity. RESULTS: Two thousand five hundred twenty-two participants have been enrolled over 22 months (18% of the hospital’s eligible patient population): 41% of participants are Black, 9% are of Hispanic origin, 50% are White, and 9% Other race. This identically mirrors the demographics of the hospital obstetric patient population (38% Black, 7% Hispanic, 49% White, and 13% Other). CONCLUSION: Participants overall mirrored the diverse population served. Inclusion of study sites outside of the traditional academic setting is an effective strategy for promoting equitable access to clinical research, combating barriers to inclusion in research faced by the populations that are disproportionately affected by APOs.