Written by: Elizabeth Adeusi, MHA
Presentation Overview
On May 9, 2024, the Clinical Research Forum of the PMI Atlanta Chapter hosted the “Diversity-Driven Project Management for Health Equity: Strategies for Inclusive Clinical Trials” virtual event presented by Dr. Terris Moss, PhD. Dr. Moss spoke to the audience and shared her expertise as a visionary leader in healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry, dedicated to advancing health equity and patient advocacy.
During this session, Dr. Moss defined diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and discussed the difference between inequality, equality, equity, and justice. While inequality is unequal access to opportunities, equality provides evenly distributed tools and assistance. Equity provides custom tools that identify and address inequality, and through justice, we can fix the system to offer equal access to both tools and opportunities.
The FDA guidance on diversity provides recommendations to sponsors developing medical products on the approach for developing a Race and Ethnicity Diversity Plan. Dr. Moss guided the audience through how DEI is incorporated into the clinical trial lifecycle, beginning with the trial design and continuing through site activation, support, patient recruitment, retention, and continuous engagement.
Using different case studies, Dr. Moss explained the barriers to diversity in clinical trial participation and proposed solutions going forward. Within their role, Clinical Project Managers may be responsible for reporting on key performance indicators and the corresponding site-level diversity metrics as they relate to the recruitment, retention, and representation of underserved populations across key demographic factors. Dr. Moss made it very clear that managing clinical trials with a diversity and inclusion lens is a moral and strategic imperative for advancing equitable healthcare.
Takeaways
- Ensuring broad and equitable participation in clinical trials remains a persistent challenge.
- Factors like socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs, language barriers, and historical mistrust can hinder diverse patient representation in clinical trials.
- Overcoming these barriers requires proactive strategies to build trust, accommodate diverse patient needs, and foster an inclusive environment that encourages participation from underrepresented populations.
Next Event
Join us at the next PMI Clinical Research Virtual Forum on Thursday, September 12, 2024
Register at www.pmiatlanta.org/events/event-calendar
Event Pictures
