Study Examines Project’s Efforts To Increase Minority Representation in Clinical Trials

"The Project IMPACT Experience to Date: Increasing Minority Participation and Awareness of Clinical Trials" (.pdf), Journal of the National Medical Association: The study examined the effects of Project IMPACT (Increase Minority Participation and Awareness of Clinical Trials) by distributing a survey to 542 black physicians. Project IMPACT involved education and training units for black physicians, the creation of a physician-investigator database and other activities. According to the follow-up study, it is unclear whether the project increased minority participation in trials. The most common barriers to participation were a lack of awareness of trial opportunities, lack of time and lack of access to a clinical research coordinator. Some respondents also said they were denied participation in some trials. The study researchers recommended placing more attention on clinical trial experiences in physician education, as well as increasing access to clinical trial information for doctors and patients (Powell et al., Journal of the National Medical Association, February 2008).