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DIVERSITY &
INCLUSION |
The Importance of Diversity & Inclusion in Clinical Trials
Access to better health care depends on access to better scientific information. That information comes from clinical trials that involve investigating new interventions— in controlled environments— on real people. And to make sure safe treatments that work are made available for everyone, clinical trials have got to reflect real-world populations. Unfortunately, participation rates for minority patients have historically been lower than for white patients.
Representation in clinical trials is essential if we are to find cures and better treatments for diseases. Different people can respond differently. So to ensure the safety and effectiveness of new drugs, it is critical that people from every race and ethnicity take part. We don't want doctors to make wild guesses about what will work and what won't.
There are conditions that disproportionately impact communities of color. This fact can make current treatments less effective or even unsafe for them. For instance, asthma is more common in African Americans and Puerto Ricans, but the most commonly prescribed medication for asthma also doesn’t work as well in these populations as it does in white and Mexican patients. Another example is that the most commonly prescribed treatment for lupus also doesn’t work as well in black and Latino patients. But women of color are two to three times more likely to get lupus. The blood thinner called warfarin (Coumadin) has been shown to cause excessive bleeding in Black cardiac patients.
These and many other examples of health and drug response disparities are why research professionals and patient advocates like us are working hard to improve representation and drive better treatments for all patients. From identifying barriers to participation to creating events and special programs to better connect with participants, we all want clinical research to move toward a more inclusive – and more effective – approach to trials. We are leading the way. We made space for you to join us.
iParticipate is here for the hard questions— and the long haul. We are patient advocates who have participated in trials ourselves. We also understand the additional issues many minorities can face when considering participation. We know how important transparency is and strive to make the process clear, help manage expectations, and optimize your experience from start to finish with open communication. We are available whenever you want to talk about these issues. We also provide other valuable resources for patients who are considering participating in a trial.
We value diversity, your opinion, and your health. We would love to speak to you.
Email us using the button below, or call us directly, 24/7, at 800 - 411 - 0511.
Representation in clinical trials is essential if we are to find cures and better treatments for diseases. Different people can respond differently. So to ensure the safety and effectiveness of new drugs, it is critical that people from every race and ethnicity take part. We don't want doctors to make wild guesses about what will work and what won't.
There are conditions that disproportionately impact communities of color. This fact can make current treatments less effective or even unsafe for them. For instance, asthma is more common in African Americans and Puerto Ricans, but the most commonly prescribed medication for asthma also doesn’t work as well in these populations as it does in white and Mexican patients. Another example is that the most commonly prescribed treatment for lupus also doesn’t work as well in black and Latino patients. But women of color are two to three times more likely to get lupus. The blood thinner called warfarin (Coumadin) has been shown to cause excessive bleeding in Black cardiac patients.
These and many other examples of health and drug response disparities are why research professionals and patient advocates like us are working hard to improve representation and drive better treatments for all patients. From identifying barriers to participation to creating events and special programs to better connect with participants, we all want clinical research to move toward a more inclusive – and more effective – approach to trials. We are leading the way. We made space for you to join us.
iParticipate is here for the hard questions— and the long haul. We are patient advocates who have participated in trials ourselves. We also understand the additional issues many minorities can face when considering participation. We know how important transparency is and strive to make the process clear, help manage expectations, and optimize your experience from start to finish with open communication. We are available whenever you want to talk about these issues. We also provide other valuable resources for patients who are considering participating in a trial.
We value diversity, your opinion, and your health. We would love to speak to you.
Email us using the button below, or call us directly, 24/7, at 800 - 411 - 0511.