Abstract
Improving clinical research participation among diverse populations continues to be a challenge, despite governmental policy which mandates the inclusion of women and minorities in clinical studies. Underrepresentation of these groups contributes to a literature that fails to serve all populations with equal effectiveness and lessens opportunities to eliminate health disparities. The lack of inclusion of Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, along with women, contributes to a scientific literature that neglects the lives of many who it was intended to serve. Investing in historically disenfranchised populations in a manner that yields a better understanding of their communities, cultures, morals, attitudes, values, and beliefs will require a facilitated shift in perspective and behaviors of researchers and participants. The effectiveness of science will be impaired, and health disparities will continue to increase without intentional and strategic efforts to engage diverse communities in research and clinical trials. In this chapter, the authors address the significance of minority inclusion in research, outline unique challenges to recruitment and retention, and offer important concepts and methodologies that address these challenges.
Keywords
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Byrd, G.S., Lang, R., Cook, S.W., Edwards, C.L., Byfield, G.E. (2017). Trial Participation and Inclusion. In: Cummings-Vaughn, L., Cruz-Oliver, D. (eds) Ethnogeriatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16558-5_6
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