Did you know that African Americans represent 12% of the U.S. population , and Hispanics make up 16% of the population but only 1% of clinical trial participants?
The impact of disease isn’t the same for everyone, either. Various health disparities exist between different ethnic and racial groups. In the U.S., people of color experience a higher incidence of some conditions, such as stroke and diabetes, than whites. For example, we know that African Americans and Hispanics are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic whites. What’s more, research shows that responses to medications can vary depending on a number of factors including genetic background and ethnicity. With a balanced representation of various races in clinical trials, researchers can better understand how factors like efficacy and dosage affect people differently and can improve treatments for all.
In order to better understand these variances and improve treatments for the people who need them, it’s critical that clinical trials include diverse populations. Minorities have historically and consistently been underrepresented in clinical trials, and barriers to participation still exist today. Here are some of the most prevalent obstacles:
| Trust |
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| Awareness |
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| Structural Obstacles |
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| Study Eligibility Criteria |
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| Cost and Insurance |
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| Language Barriers |
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| Administrative Complexity |
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| Understanding Benefits |
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