Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Featured

    Yes, Black Patients Do Want To Help With Medical Research 

    Article submittedBy Article submittedSeptember 12, 2022No Comments6 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
    Advertisement

    By Julia Liu, Morehouse School of Medicine and RaKetra Snipes, Morehouse School of Medicine

    Clinical trial participants are predominantly white. Despite Black and Hispanic people respectively making up 12% and 16% of the U.S. population in 2011, together they made up only 6% of clinical trial participants overall that year.

    Clinical trials that are representative of all patients are essential to ensure that treatments are effective for everyone. Drugs work differently for each person based on different factors. Including diverse patient populations in clinical trials makes sure these factors are accounted for. But the perception that recruiting white patients is easier, less time-consuming and more cost-efficient than recruiting underrepresented or underserved patients contributes to health disparities seen today.

    We are gastroenterology researchers at Morehouse School of Medicine who run clinical trials and study ways to improve participant diversity. Identifying and addressing the barriers to enrolling in research that patients face can not only increase participation, but can also lead to better patient care.

    The problem of access

    Barriers to clinical trial participation start with a lack of access to trials.

    Clinical trials have specific eligibility criteria, and may require a number of study-related visits to the hospital where they’re conducted. But underserved and underrepresented populations often aren’t seen in practices that recruit patients for clinical trials.

    Typically, clinical trials are designed by research-focused physicians working in urban medical centers. The majority of Black and Hispanic patients have limited access to the health care system as a whole, and the centers that serve them often do not have the research infrastructure or resources to run clinical trials.

    While researchers have made attempts to increase the diversity of clinical trial participants, misconceptions and biases within the medical community about underrepresented populations limit these outreach efforts. For example, beliefs persist that Black patients aren’t willing to participate in research studies and are noncompliant and mistrustful due to historical abuse from medical researchers, such as in the Tuskegee syphilis study.

    https://www.youtube.com/embed/7qAld9bGwlA?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://newpittsburghcourier.comLimited access to clinical trials is both a product of and driving factor behind health disparities.

    A colon cancer case study

    One example of how lack of diversity in clinical trial participation can lead to poor health for patients is outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease. IBD is a chronic condition that comes in two forms, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Patients with IBD have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

    Black patients account for 75% of IBD cases at Morehouse School of Medicine. Many of our current patients were either previously misdiagnosed or only treated for their symptoms in the emergency room without further investigation. This has led to many of our patients getting diagnosed with IBD when the disease is already at an advanced stage, making it more difficult to treat.

    Julia Liu started Morehouse’s first colorectal cancer clinical trial in 2021. The Prevention of Colorectal Cancer Through Multiomics Blood Testing study evaluated whether a particular blood test could aid in early colorectal cancer screening. Due to misconceptions about Black patients’ interest in research, we anticipated few patients would participate in the trial because our patient base is 90% African American. The sponsor for the study expected an enrollment rate as low as one to three patients per week at our site.

    However, when enrollment began, we saw high interest among our Black patients. After three months, we had enrolled 100 patients, 85% of whom were Black.

    So how did we do it?

    Identifying barriers

    First, we identified the participation barriers our Black and Hispanic patients faced.

    We conducted a pilot study to identify more broadly the main barriers to research participation in underserved and underrepresented populations in our area. We reviewed enrollment rates, failures to meet eligibility and data issues, among others, from our past studies to see where we could improve.

    We evaluated the role of mistrust by surveying patients at an IBD education conference. Although patients often cited mistrust of health care providers and systems as a major barrier to trial participation, 70% of patients with a college education trusted their gastroenterologists, and 100% of patients with less than a college education trusted their doctors. Moreover, while 83% of respondents knew about the Tuskegee syphilis study, only 23% indicated that their decision to not participate in research was influenced by that study.

    Clinician showing clipboard to patient in exam room
    There often isn’t enough time to talk about the details of participating in a clinical trial during an office visit.
    FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images

    We also identified other barriers based on our experience working with Black patients in other clinical trials. A significant one was low levels of health literacy, or the ability to understand and make informed health care decisions. Another was limited access to specialty care, particularly when patients have been waiting for months for an appointment. Lack of transportation was another.

    Time was another barrier. Because many of our patients have limited exposure to clinical studies, they have many questions and concerns that most clinicians do not have the time to answer in the space of a standard appointment. Patients also could not afford the time commitment required for complex clinical trials. An informed consent process can take over an hour, and many trials require frequent and prolonged hospital visits, for which patients may not be able to take paid time off.

    Implementing solutions

    After identifying these barriers, we worked to create solutions to help our patients participate in research.

    We pre-screened potential study participants by looking through their electronic medical records and provider referrals. This helped us identify qualifying patients and proactively reach out to them.

    Two researchers looking at test tube
    Training research and clinical staff on cultural competency could increase trial recruitment and improve care.
    valentinrussanov/E+ via Getty Images

    We also trained research staff as well as hospital administration, faculty, staff and students on the study, offering tips on how to interact with underserved and underrepresented patients.

    Most importantly, we encouraged our clinicians and researchers to create a safe space for participants to be able to ask questions. This also provides an opportunity to work out ways to accommodate a patient’s schedule.

    Making an effort

    Working with diverse participants can be challenging, but so is every other aspect of clinical research. Our results showed that intentional recruitment, flexibility and creative solutions can help increase enrollment of underrepresented populations in clinical trials.

    Partnering with an institution dedicated to serving underserved populations can also help. But above all, research participants are looking for a genuine interest in their well-being.The Conversation

    Julia Liu, Professor of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine and RaKetra Snipes, Physician Assistant in Gastroenterology, Morehouse School of Medicine

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Article submitted

    Related Posts

    Gospel pioneer Mama Mosie Burks dies at 92

    July 8, 2025

    Fisk University Welcomes Antonio Barrino to Lead Band Program and Expand Music Education

    July 7, 2025

    Tennessee Human Rights Commission Dissolved

    July 3, 2025

    Emmett Till National Monument May Be Removed Under Trump Admin

    June 28, 2025

    TSU, State, reach agreement to reallocate $96M to school

    June 26, 2025

    TSU student lands prestigious internship at Harvard Medical School

    June 25, 2025

    Comments are closed.

    Business

    Charlotte Knight Griffin Takes Office as TBA President-Elect

    June 30, 2025

    EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

    June 19, 2025

    FUNdraising Good Times Report from Neighborhoods USA Conference in Jacksonville

    June 4, 2025
    1 2 3 … 384 Next
    Education
    Featured

    Fisk University Welcomes Antonio Barrino to Lead Band Program and Expand Music Education

    By adminJuly 7, 2025

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Fisk University proudly announces the appointment of Antonio Barrino to the Department of…

    Austin Peay’s MPH program receives $27K for childhood literacy initiative. Community LIFT Project to be implemented at Head Start centers this fall

    June 30, 2025

    TSU, State, reach agreement to reallocate $96M to school

    June 26, 2025

    TSU student lands prestigious internship at Harvard Medical School

    June 25, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/