Race and HIV clinical trial participation.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to examine at the role race/ethnicity plays in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical trial enrollment.


BACKGROUND
HIV clinical trials are vitally important for improving knowledge about medications and their impact on the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS. African Americans are disproportionately underrepresented in HIV clinical trials.


METHODS
A 49-item survey was administered to 145 patients at an urban HIV clinic to explore race and HIV clinical trial participation.


RESULTS
Study participants were 56% Caucasian, 19% other, 16% African American, and 13% Hispanic. Fewer African Americans had been asked to participate in a trial compared to other groups (8% vs. 24%) (p < .05). African Americans were less likely to volunteer for a trial compared to Hispanics and Caucasians, but African Americans did not differ significantly in their willingness participate in clinical trials vs. other racial groups. In a regression model age, past trial participation, monetary gain, and comfort with the clinical setting predicted willingness to participate in a trial across racial groups (p < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a strong need to identify strategies to increase African American enrollment in trials. Such strategies need to begin with trial recruiters actively seeking out African Americans for clinical trial enrollment.
DeFreitas
Donna
D
Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California 95817 USA. donna.defreitas@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D044469:Racial Groups; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology