The evolving health equity landscape
At AstraZeneca, we are on a mission to accelerate change around health equity in the US for patients and employees, with the understanding that systemic barriers prevent millions of Americans from achieving their best possible health outcomes. One important area where we are doing so is in our clinical trials, a landscape which is not always reflective of the country’s diverse population.
This participation discrepancy is due to a number of obstacles that racial and ethnic populations may face including time and language restraints, potential biases or discrimination, and deeper barriers like institutional mistrust.1 Studies have illuminated feelings of distrust, fear of potential mistreatment or unknown side effects and an overall lack of awareness among minorities. Accessibility also plays a critical role in participation, as clinical trials historically have not been convenient for people due to geographical barriers and interference with work or school obligations.2
However, because people of varied ages, races and ethnicities experience treatments differently, it is imperative to conduct research amongst a representative sample of individuals within each disease area being studied. 3 Governing agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have published specific eligibility criteria, enrollment practices and trial designs to cement clinical trial diversity as an industry standard. To learn more about the current underrepresentation of minorities and importance of diversity in clinical trials, check out the That’s Understandable podcast.
Shifting gears to eliminate barriers to participation in clinical trials
We recognize that clinical trial recruitment requires a new approach to ensure greater representation of the disease areas being studied. It’s why we’re excited to announce the AIRE Mobile Unit: a new component of our initiative to accelerate innovation and research excellence in clinical trials. This mobile clinical research bus is designed to eliminate barriers to participation and ensure our research reflects the diversity of the populations we aim to treat by bringing clinical trial opportunities directly to patients in their neighborhoods.
Simply put, our AIRE Mobile Unit is a “clinic on wheels” that brings trial screenings to directly to patients in diverse communities beginning with the Los Angeles and San Antonio metropolitan areas. The full-sized bus is equipped with exam rooms and staffed with healthcare professionals who are ready to pre-screen patients and book both an appointment and transportation for patients to visit the clinical trial site they’re referred to.
The goals of the AIRE Mobile Unit are to increase patient access to trials, improve diversity in trials, raise disease state awareness and solidify the importance of clinical trials in underrepresented communities. To accomplish this, AstraZeneca is partnering with local patient and community groups to meet patients where they are in hopes of building trust to encourage increased communication and enrollment. Further, as we engage new communities, the AIRE Mobile Unit will help to gather more inclusive data and ensure our trials reflect the diversity of the patients we serve.
We’re proud to bring to life a more convenient recruitment experience, removing the typically burdensome pre-screening process for patients to make access to clinical trials quick, simple and effective. Learn more about AstraZeneca’s roadmap toward our ambition of achieving health equity for all: bit.ly/3JhnYmv.
References:
- Thakur, N., Lovinsky-Desir, S., Appell, D., Bime, C., et al. (2021). Enhancing Recruitment and Retention of Minority Populations for Clinical Research in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine: An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 204(3), e26-e50. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202105-1210ST
- American Lung Association. (2017, March). Improving Clinical Trial Enrollment. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://lung.org/getmedia/1f78dc1a-a501-4c0e-8bb8-1467f6392e3d/ala-improving-trial-enrollment-march17b-draft.pdf
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Clinical trial diversity. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://www.fda.gov/consumers/minority-health-and-health-equity/clinical-trial-diversity
