Barriers to eligibility and enrollment among older women in a clinical trial on osteoporosis: effects of ethnicity and SES.
OBJECTIVE
The study examined whether ethnicity or socioeconomic status influenced a group's ability to meet eligibility criteria and willingness to enroll.


METHODS
The eligibility and enrollment status of 904 women aged 65 years and older who responded to recruitment efforts of an estrogen and osteoporosis clinical trial were analyzed.


RESULTS
Among women screened, 59% were White, 27% African Americans, and 14% Hispanics; average age was 75 years; 57.6% were eligible, of which 32% enrolled. High-income area residents were more likely to be eligible than low-income residents. African Americans were less likely to be eligible for medical reasons than non-African Americans. Eligible Hispanics were more likely to be enrolled than non-Hispanics. African Americans were equally willing to enroll as Whites. Minority residents of low-income areas were more likely to enroll than minority residents of high-income areas.


CONCLUSIONS
Recruitment efforts should address barriers to eligibility and barriers to willingness to enroll.
Unson
Christine G
CG
University of Connecticut Health Center, USA.
Ohannessian
Christine
C
Kenyon
Lisa
L
Case
Allison
A
Reisine
Susan
S
Prestwood
Karen
K
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D010024:Osteoporosis; D018579:Patient Selection; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D014930:Women