Recruiting for clinical trials

ACRP Wire had an interesting article this week about a new advertising campaign by Yale University, inviting people to be a part of clinical research by taking part in clinical trials. The "Help Us Discover" campaign seeks to inform the public about what it's like to be a part of clinical trials, and includes information about the safety of clinical trials and special efforts to recruit from minority groups. Clinical research is dependent on participation from volunteers, but there are a lot of misconceptions about the nature of clinical research. It will be interesting to see if Yale's broad reaching campaign increase recruiting success.

Improving communication about clinical trials

This week's ACRP Wire highlights an article from the American Journal of Public Health which examines the problems with communication about clinical trials. Misinformation and miscommunication about the nature and the risks of clinical trials, specifically HIV vaccine trials, is inhibiting enrollment in these trials. In order for these trials to succeed, it is important to have the support and participation of high-risk groups and communities. But to get their participation, researchers have to improve how they communicate with community members and stakeholders. Improved communication will facilitate greater trust of the clinical research professionals, as the community will be able to see that they are working towards the same goal - improved health for the entire community.

Finding the right metaphor

The ACRP Wire, the newsletter of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, had an interesting article today on a study which looked at how language affects research participant understanding. The metaphors research coordinators use make a difference in participant understanding of concepts such as randomization. A metaphor that described randomization as similar to the flipping of a coin evoked the idea of winning or losing, while comparing randomization to the chance an expectant mother may have a boy or a girl was better understood.

The study points to the importance of effective communication, targeted to the literacy and health literacy of the potential research participants involved.

participating in clinical research

An article in the ACRP Wire caught my attention today. Many Americans recognize the value of medical research but many don't participate because they don't have time. But now more patient self-report studies are being conducted online, giving participants a convenient way to contribute to medical knowledge.

It is exciting to see any industry grow and adapt to new technologies. And the Internet holds much promise in gathering self-reported health information from people all over the world.

You can find the ACRP article here: http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/acrpwire/issues/2008-07-31/2.html

two interesting articles

Yesterday evening I was occupied at an Association of Clinical Research Professionals meeting so I didn't get a chance to post this interesting article from CNN about whether the Tuskegee syphilis trial still has repercussions for African Americans participation in clinical trials today. It is an interesting article that examines whether African Americans distrust clinical trials, or if they do not have equal access to opportunities to participate in clinical trials. You can find the article here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/03/17/clinical.trials.ap/index.html.

Today's New York Times ran an article today on trends in medical education, specifically the trend towards specialization in the highly competitive fields of dermatology and plastic surgery. While dermatology was once derided by other medical specialties, new research is drawing in more medical students and residents. Also enticing is the promise of high pay and stable hours as compared to other medical professions. But this has implications for medical care in that fewer doctors are specializing in primary and preventative care, which have longer hours and lower pay. The article explores these issues here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/19/fashion/19beauty.html?ex=1363665600&en=6af29d977d525093&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink