FINAL PROJECT [GIS5100]: Expanding Community Engagement and Diversity in Clinical Trials in Birmingham, Alabama

 

 Expanding Community Engagement and Diversity in Clinical Trials in Birmingham, Alabama

The success of clinical trials can be improved when a diverse population representative of the population at risk for the disease being studied is engaged in the ongoing research related to that disease (Clark et al., 2019). Barriers to enrollment include distrust of being a research subject and logistical challenges, including travel time (Nissen, 2019). The urgency of addressing outcome disparity associated with new medical advances is particularly concerning in fields such as immunotherapy where knowledge of predictive biomarkers can guide optimal treatments (Nazha, 2019). Including ethnic and cultural diversity in clinical trial research can also help to address costs associated with inequitable care and better inform service planning for impacted communities (Low et al., 2019).

 The purpose of this final project was to examine current community engagement trends in clinical trial sites within a regional area around Birmingham, Alabama. The specific objectives were as follows:
  • Identify hot spots of high and low engagement in clinical trials in the Birmingham, Alabama area
  • Determine the proximity of clinical trial sites (e.g., hospitals) and relevant public transportation sources (e.g., bus routes) for areas of low engagement
  • Identify social and economic interests that can be used to design relevant intervention strategies for expanding the diversity of enrolled patients in clinical trials
Two representative maps from this project are shown above. The map on the left can be used to discuss the effectiveness of digital intervention strategies, while the map on the right can be used to assist in the design of intervention strategies targeting particular diversity goals.

References:
  • Clark, L. T., Watkins, L., Piña, I. L., Elmer, M., Akinboboye, O., Gorham, M., ... & Puckrein, G. (2019). Increasing diversity in clinical trials: Overcoming critical barriers. Current problems in cardiology, 44(5), 148-172.
  • Low, L. F., Barcenilla‐Wong, A. L., & Brijnath, B. (2019). Including ethnic and cultural diversity in dementia research. The medical journal of Australia, 211(8), 345-346.
  • Nazha, B., Mishra, M., Pentz, R., & Owonikoko, T. K. (2019). Enrollment of racial minorities in clinical trials: Old problem assumes new urgency in the age of immunotherapy. American society of clinical oncology educational book, 39, 3-10.
  • Nissen, J. (2019). Do digital clinical trials offer hope for patients? Population health management. https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2019.0156

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