Recent findings highlight a critical gap in diabetes clinical trials, where underrepresented communities face significant barriers to participation. This disparity is particularly concerning given that Hispanic adults have nearly twice the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes compared to non-Hispanic white adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Renee Pekmezaris, PhD, a professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, emphasizes the importance of culturally tailored interventions. “We are not just talking about bigger fonts for diabetic eyes. We are talking about the fact that these videos are talking about burgers and fries when we eat frijoles and tortillas,” Pekmezaris explains, highlighting the need for culturally relevant educational materials.
Language barriers present a significant obstacle. Xoli Belgrave, Senior Director at Parexel, notes that while patients are often eager to participate, sponsors may hesitate to cover translation costs. This issue extends beyond mere word-for-word translation, as Pekmezaris points out that certain terms can have vastly different meanings across Hispanic dialects.
Louise Goff, PhD, from the Leicester Diabetes Centre, challenges the notion of “hard to reach” communities, suggesting instead a shift in perspective to “how to reach” these groups. She stresses the importance of understanding patients’ lived experiences to break down participation barriers.
Flexible study designs are crucial for increasing diversity in clinical trials. Dr. Muhammad Karamat, a consultant physician at University Hospitals Birmingham, notes that rigid inclusion criteria can inadvertently exclude minority populations who often present with more severe forms of diabetes.
As the medical community strives for more inclusive research, adapting clinical trials to embrace underrepresented communities remains a critical challenge in addressing health disparities in diabetes care.
See: “Adapting diabetes clinical trials to embrace underrepresented communities” (October 25, 2024)
