CT-07 A faith-based approach to increasing african american awareness and participation in lupus clinical trials

Field: Health Professions (Health Sciences)

Background

Improving Minority Participation and Awareness in Clinical Trials (IMPACT) for Lupus was a 2016–2017 initiative through the Lupus Foundation of America aimed at increasing participation of African Americans in lupus clinical trials. A faith-based educational model using health navigators for reaching this population through churches was created by leveraging existing community partnerships and by employing culturally relevant communication tools and outreach strategies. IMPACT for Lupus used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach and incorporated Ford's conceptual framework3 focusing on awareness as the fundamental first step to clinical trial participation.

Methods

First, an Action Partnership (AP) of public and private stakeholders, including community leaders and a patient representative, was created to provide input throughout the entire project. Next, an extensive literature review of past studies and initiatives to increase clinical trials awareness served as formative research to develop a mixed-methods study assessing the receptivity and cultural appropriateness of the educational model (see figure 1). Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 key informants. A survey was developed for patients (n=205) and physicians (n=122). Patient materials were assessed for cultural relevance through a community advisory board (CAB). A three-month pilot testing of the model was implemented and evaluated in three sites: Charleston, SC; Atlanta, GA; and Fort Washington, MD. Five outcome measures were developed to evaluate receptivity to the model through pre- and post-patient surveys and navigator interviews.

Results

There was unanimous agreement among physicians, community leaders, and patients to utilize a collaborative approach including physicians, nurses, community based organizations, or other intermediaries, to enhance patient consideration of clinical trials. Physicians and community leaders recommended a community-based navigator to facilitate the relationship and indicated that the most effective approach to outreach to the African American community is through the church. Among patients, more than half also ranked the church as a preferred place to learn about lupus clinical trials. 95% of physicians indicated that lupus patients do not inquire about clinical trials very often or at all. However, patient communication with their healthcare providers was significantly associated with clinical trial participation. Pilot evaluation showed that navigator outreach through churches resulted in increased patient-provider communication about clinical trials.

Conclusions

IMPACT for Lupus showed promise as an effective faith-based education model to raise awareness of clinical trials among African Americans with lupus. Additional studies with extended implementation periods and a focus on smaller, local churches are needed to support the findings of this study.

Acknowledgements

IMPACT for Lupus Action Partnership (AP); Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD); Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC); Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America; Carlden Inc. This program was funded by the Office of Minority Health (OMH) grant number CPIMP161122-01-00.