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Massaro AN, Boyer B, Gill M, Kim D, Laughon M, Walsh M, Lemmon ME, Pilon B, Baer G. Measuring Clinical Benefit in Neonatal Randomized Clinical Trials: Challenges and Opportunities. J Pediatr 2024; 269:113972. [PMID: 38401783 PMCID: PMC11181158 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.113972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- An N Massaro
- Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, Office of the Commisioner, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD.
| | - Beth Boyer
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Washington, DC
| | - Mira Gill
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Washington, DC
| | - Dure Kim
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Washington, DC
| | - Matthew Laughon
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Michele Walsh
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD
| | - Monica E Lemmon
- Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, Washington, DC; Departments of Pediatrics and Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | | | - Gerri Baer
- Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, Office of the Commisioner, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD
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Pressler R, Boylan G, Dempsey E, Klotz KA, Krauwinkel W, Will E, Morita D, Floricel F, Elshoff J, van den Anker J. Pharmacokinetics and safety of brivaracetam in neonates with repeated electroencephalographic seizures: A multicenter, open-label, single-arm study. Epilepsia Open 2024; 9:522-533. [PMID: 38049197 PMCID: PMC10984296 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of brivaracetam (BRV) in neonates with repeated electroencephalographic seizures not controlled with previous antiseizure medications (ASMs). METHODS Phase 2/3, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study (N01349/NCT03325439) in neonates with repeated electroencephalographic seizures (lasting ≥10 s) confirmed by video-electroencephalography, and inadequate seizure control with at least one ASM. A screening period (up to 36 h) was followed by a 48-h evaluation period during which patients received 0.5 mg/kg BRV twice daily (b.i.d) intravenously (IV). Patients who benefitted from BRV (investigator's opinion) could continue 0.5 mg/kg b.i.d (IV or oral solution) in an extension period. Outcomes included plasma concentrations of BRV following the first dose (primary), and incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). RESULTS Six patients (median [range] postnatal age: 1.5 [1.0, 6.0] days) received ≥1 dose of BRV. All six patients completed the evaluation period; two entered and completed the extension period. Overall (evaluation and extension periods), three patients received one dose of 0.5 mg/kg BRV and three received more than one dose. The median (range) duration of exposure to BRV (IV and oral solution) was 1.5 (1.0, 29.0) days (n = 6). At 0.5-1, 2-4, and 8-12 h following IV BRV administration, the GeoMean (GeoCV) plasma concentrations of BRV were 0.53 mg/L (15.40% [n = 5]), 0.50 mg/L (28.20% [n = 6]), and 0.34 mg/L (13.20% [n = 5]), respectively. Individual and population BRV PK profiles were estimated, and individual PK parameters were calculated using Bayesian feedback. The observed concentrations were consistent with the predicted PK. Three patients experienced four TEAEs, none of which were considered related to BRV. SIGNIFICANCE BRV plasma concentrations in neonates were consistent with data in older children receiving BRV oral solution, and with data from adults receiving a nominal IV dose of 25 mg b.i.d. BRV was well tolerated, with no drug-related TEAEs reported. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Few drugs are available to treat seizures in newborn babies. Brivaracetam is approved to treat focal-onset seizures in children and adults in Europe (patients 2 years of age and older) and the United States (patients 1 month of age or older). In this study, six newborns with repeated seizures were treated with intravenous brivaracetam. The study doctors took samples of blood from the newborns and measured the levels of brivaracetam. The concentrations of brivaracetam in the newborns' blood plasma were consistent with data from studies in older children and in adults. No brivaracetam-related medical problems were reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronit Pressler
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Clinical NeuroscienceUCL‐GOS Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Geraldine Boylan
- INFANT Research Centre and Department of Paediatrics and Child HealthCorkIreland
| | - Eugene Dempsey
- INFANT Research Centre and Department of Paediatrics and Child HealthCorkIreland
| | - Kerstin Alexandra Klotz
- Department of Neuropediatrics and Muscle Disorders, Medical CenterUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
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Weiss EM, Donohue PK, Wootton SH, Stevens E, Merhar SL, Puia-Dumitrescu M, Mercer A, Oslin E, Porter KM, Wilfond BS. Motivations for and against Participation in Neonatal Research: Insights from Interviews of Diverse Parents Approached for Neonatal Research in the US. J Pediatr 2024:113923. [PMID: 38492913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.113923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe parents' motivations for and against participation in neonatal research, including the views of those who declined participation. STUDY DESIGN We performed 44 semi-structured, qualitative interviews of parents approached for neonatal research. Here we describe their motivations for and against participation. RESULTS Altruism was an important reason parents chose to participate. Some hoped participation in research would benefit their infant. Burdens of participation to the family, such as transportation to follow up (distinct from risks/burdens to the infant), were often deciding factors among those who declined participation. Perceived risks to the infant were reasons against participation, but parents often did not differentiate between baseline risks and incremental risk of study participation. Concerns regarding their infant being treated like a "guinea pig" were common among those who declined. Finally, historical abuses and institutional racism were reported as important concerns by some research decliners from minoritized populations. CONCLUSIONS Within a diverse sample of parents approached to enroll their infant in neonatal research, motivations for and against participation emerged, which may be targets of future interventions. These motivations included reasons for participation which we may hope to encourage, such as altruism. They also included reasons against participation, which we may hope to, as feasible, eliminate, mitigate, or at least acknowledge. These findings can help clinical trialists, regulators, and funders attempting to improve neonatal research recruitment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott Mark Weiss
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
| | - Pamela K Donohue
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Susan H Wootton
- McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Emily Stevens
- McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX; Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Stephanie L Merhar
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati OH and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
| | - Mihai Puia-Dumitrescu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Amanda Mercer
- Counselor Education Department, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Ellie Oslin
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kathryn M Porter
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Benjamin S Wilfond
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
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Weiss EM, Porter KM, Oslin E, Puia-Dumitrescu M, Donohue PK, Merhar SL, Stephens E, Mercer A, Wilfond BS. Experiences and preferences for learning about neonatal research: insights from parent interviews. J Perinatol 2024; 44:404-414. [PMID: 38001157 PMCID: PMC10939889 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-023-01790-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Parents struggle with being asked to participate in neonatal research. Past work has largely failed to include views of minoritized parents, low-socioeconomic status parents, and those who declined research. We aimed to describe parents' preferences related to learning about eligibility for neonatal research. METHODS Qualitative interviews of parents who were asked to enroll their infant in neonatal research. Themes related to parental experiences and preferences for learning about neonatal research were identified using content analysis. RESULTS Many parents desired greater involvement of their clinical team. Emotions at the time of recruitment were critically important to parents' experience, where were deeply impacted by interpersonal relationships with research staff. DISCUSSION Increased involvement of the clinical team and greater sensitivity to the stressors around parent and infant conditions at the time of recruitment for neonatal research should be considered by those attempting to improve recruitment for neonatal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott Mark Weiss
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Kathryn M Porter
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ellie Oslin
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mihai Puia-Dumitrescu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Pamela K Donohue
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephanie L Merhar
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Emily Stephens
- McGovern Medical Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Amanda Mercer
- Counselor Education Department, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Benjamin S Wilfond
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
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Katheria AC, Schmölzer GM, Law B, Yoder BA, Clark E, El-Naggar W, Morales A, Dorner RA, Mooso B, Rich W, Vora F, Finer N. Parental perspectives on a trial using waived informed consent at birth. J Perinatol 2024; 44:415-418. [PMID: 38129598 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-023-01853-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine parental perspectives in a trial with waived consent. STUDY DESIGN Anonymous survey of birth parents with term infants who were randomized using a waiver of consent, administered after infant discharge. RESULTS 121 (11%) survey responses were collected. Of the 121 responding parents 111 (92%) reported that this form of consent was acceptable and 116 (96%) reported feeling comfortable having another child participate in a similar study. 110 (91%) respondents reported that they both understood the information provided in the consent process and had enough time to consider participation. Four percent had a negative opinion on the study's effect on their child's health. CONCLUSIONS Most responding parents reported both acceptability of this study design in the neonatal period and that the study had a positive effect on their child's health. Future work should investigate additional ways to involve parents and elicit feedback on varied methods of pediatric consent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anup C Katheria
- Neonatal Research Institute, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | | | - Brenda Law
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Erin Clark
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Ana Morales
- Neonatal Research Institute, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca A Dorner
- Neonatal Research Institute, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Mooso
- University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Wade Rich
- Neonatal Research Institute, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Farha Vora
- Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | - Neil Finer
- Neonatal Research Institute, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, San Diego, CA, USA
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Weiss EM, Porter KM, Sullivan TR, Sotelo Guerra LJ, Anderson EE, Garrison NA, Baker L, Smith JM, Kraft SA. Equity Concerns Across Pediatric Research Recruitment: An Analysis of Research Staff Interviews. Acad Pediatr 2024; 24:318-329. [PMID: 37442368 PMCID: PMC10782814 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2023.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Difficulty recruiting individuals from minoritized and underserved populations for clinical research is well documented and has health equity implications. Previously, we reported findings from interviews with research staff about pediatric research recruitment processes. Respondents raised equity concerns related to recruitment and enrollment of participants from minoritized, low resourced, and underserved populations. We therefore decided to perform a secondary coding of the transcripts to examine equity-related issues systematically. METHODS We conducted a process of secondary coding and analysis of interviews with research staff involved in recruitment for pediatric clinical research. Through consensus we identified codes relevant to equity and developed a conceptual framework including 5 stages of research. RESULTS We analyzed 28 interviews and coded equity-related items. We report 6 implications of our findings. First, inequitable access to clinical care is an upstream barrier to research participation. Second, there is a need to increase research opportunities where underserved and under-represented populations receive care. Third, increasing research team diversity can build trust with patients and families, but teams must ensure adequate support of all research team members. Fourth, issues related to consent processes raise institutional-level opportunities for improvement. Fifth, there are numerous study procedure-related barriers to participation. Sixth, our analysis illustrates that individuals who speak languages other than English face barriers across multiple stages. CONCLUSIONS Research staff members identified equity-related concerns and recommended potential solutions across 5 stages of the research process, which may guide those endeavoring to improve research recruitment for pediatric patients from minoritized and underserved populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott Mark Weiss
- From the Department of Pediatrics (EM Weiss, JM Smith, SA Kraft), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash; Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care (EM Weiss, KM Porter, and SA Kraft), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Wash.
| | - Kathryn M Porter
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care (EM Weiss, KM Porter, and SA Kraft), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Wash
| | | | - Laura J Sotelo Guerra
- Research Integration Hub (LJ Sotelo Guerra, L Baker, and JM Smith), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Wash
| | - Emily E Anderson
- Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics (EE Anderson), Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, Ill
| | - Nanibaa' A Garrison
- Institute for Society and Genetics (NA Garrison), University of California Los Angeles; Institute for Precision Health (NA Garrison), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles; and Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research (NA Garrison), Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Laura Baker
- Research Integration Hub (LJ Sotelo Guerra, L Baker, and JM Smith), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Wash
| | - Jodi M Smith
- From the Department of Pediatrics (EM Weiss, JM Smith, SA Kraft), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash; Research Integration Hub (LJ Sotelo Guerra, L Baker, and JM Smith), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Wash
| | - Stephanie A Kraft
- From the Department of Pediatrics (EM Weiss, JM Smith, SA Kraft), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Wash; Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care (EM Weiss, KM Porter, and SA Kraft), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Wash
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Forth FA, Hammerle F, König J, Urschitz MS, Neuweiler P, Mildenberger E, Kidszun A. Optimistic vs Pessimistic Message Framing in Communicating Prognosis to Parents of Very Preterm Infants: The COPE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e240105. [PMID: 38393728 PMCID: PMC10891472 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance In the neonatal intensive care unit, there is a lack of understanding about how best to communicate the prognosis of a serious complication to parents. Objective To examine parental preferences and the effects of optimistic vs pessimistic message framing when providing prognostic information about a serious complication. Design, Setting, and Participants This crossover randomized clinical trial was conducted at a single German university medical center between June and October 2021. Eligible participants were parents of surviving preterm infants with a birth weight under 1500 g. Data were analyzed between October 2021 and August 2022. Interventions Alternating exposure to 2 scripted video vignettes showing a standardized conversation between a neonatologist and parents, portrayed by professional actors, about the prognosis of a hypothetical very preterm infant with severe intraventricular hemorrhage. The video vignettes differed in the framing of identical numerical outcome estimates as either probability of survival and probability of nonimpairment (optimistic framing) or a risk of death and impaired survival (pessimistic framing). Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was preference odds (ratio of preference for optimistic vs pessimistic framing). Secondary outcomes included state anxiety, perceptions of communication, and recall of numerical estimates. Results Of 220 enrolled parents (142 [64.5%] mothers; mean [SD] age: mothers, 39.1 [5.6] years; fathers, 42.7 [6.9] years), 196 (89.1%) preferred optimistic and 24 (10.1%) preferred pessimistic framing (preference odds, 11.0; 95% CI, 6.28-19.10; P < .001). Preference for optimistic framing was more pronounced when presented second than when presented first (preference odds, 5.41; 95% CI, 1.77-16.48; P = .003). State anxiety scores were similar in both groups at baseline (mean difference, -0.34; -1.18 to 0.49; P = .42) and increased equally after the first video (mean difference, -0.55; 95% CI, -1.79 to 0.69; P = .39). After the second video, state anxiety scores decreased when optimistic framing followed pessimistic framing but remained unchanged when pessimistic framing followed optimistic framing (mean difference, 2.15; 95% CI, 0.91 to 3.39; P < .001). With optimistic framing, participants recalled numerical estimates more accurately for survival (odds ratio, 4.00; 95% CI, 1.64-9.79; P = .002) but not for impairment (odds ratio, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.85-2.63; P = .16). Conclusions and Relevance When given prognostic information about a serious complication, parents of very preterm infants may prefer optimistic framing. Optimistic framing may lead to more realistic expectations for survival, but not for impairment. Trial Registration German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS): DRKS00024466.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona A. Forth
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Florian Hammerle
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jochem König
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael S. Urschitz
- Division of Pediatric Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp Neuweiler
- Journalistisches Seminar, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Eva Mildenberger
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - André Kidszun
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Malin KJ, Kruschel K, Gondwe K, Lagatta J, Carter CS, Nazarloo HP, Conley Y, White-Traut R. Feasibility of Stress Research in Premature Infant-Maternal Dyads During and After Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Hospitalization. Adv Neonatal Care 2023; 23:583-595. [PMID: 37948632 PMCID: PMC10786239 DOI: 10.1097/anc.0000000000001112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stress from preterm infant admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is associated with infant and maternal physiologic changes, including endocrine and epigenetic alterations. Little is known about the mechanisms connecting NICU stress to biologic changes, and whether preterm infant and maternal stress are reciprocal. As a preliminary step, feasibility and acceptability of measuring indicators of stress are required. PURPOSE This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of research examining perceptions and biologic markers of stress in premature infant-maternal dyads during and after NICU hospitalization. METHODS We evaluated study feasibility using a longitudinal descriptive design. Acceptability was measured via a maternal questionnaire. Exploratory data regarding hospitalization, perceptions of stress, social support and social determinants of health, and biologic markers of stress were collected during the first week of life and again 3 months after NICU. RESULTS Forty-eight mothers were eligible for the study, 36 mothers were approached, 20 mothers consented to participate, and 14 mothers completed data collection. Mothers reported high levels of study acceptability despite also voicing concern about the sharing of genetic data. Exploration of DNA methylation of SLC6A4 in preterm infants was significant for a strong correlation with perception of total chronic stress. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH Clinical practice at the bedside in the NICU should include standardized screening for and early interventions to minimize stress. Complex research of stress is feasible and acceptable. Future research should focus on linking early life stress with epigenetic alterations and evaluation of the dyad for reciprocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn J Malin
- Marquette University, College of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Dr Malin); Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Drs Malin and White-Traut); Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (Ms Kruschel and Dr Lagatta); University of Washington, The Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Gondwe); The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (Drs Carter and Nazarloo); and University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Conley)
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Lyle ANJ, Shaikh H, Oslin E, Gray MM, Weiss EM. Race and Ethnicity of Infants Enrolled in Neonatal Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2348882. [PMID: 38127349 PMCID: PMC10739112 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.48882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Representativeness of populations within neonatal clinical trials is crucial to moving the field forward. Although racial and ethnic disparities in research inclusion are well documented in other fields, they are poorly described within neonatology. Objective To describe the race and ethnicity of infants included in a sample of recent US neonatal clinical trials and the variability in this reporting. Evidence Review A systematic search of US neonatal clinical trials entered into Cochrane CENTRAL 2017 to 2021 was conducted. Two individuals performed inclusion determination, data extraction, and quality assessment independently with discrepancies adjudicated by consensus. Findings Of 120 studies with 14 479 participants that met the inclusion criteria, 75 (62.5%) included any participant race or ethnicity data. In the studies that reported race and ethnicity, the median (IQR) percentage of participants of each background were 0% (0%-1%) Asian, 26% (9%-42%) Black, 3% (0%-12%) Hispanic, 0% (0%-0%) Indigenous (eg, Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian), 0% (0%-0%) multiple races, 57% (30%-68%) White, and 7% (1%-21%) other race or ethnicity. Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous participants were underrepresented, while White participants were overrepresented compared with a reference sample of the US clinical neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) population from the Vermont Oxford Network. Many participants were labeled as other race or ethnicity without adequate description. There was substantial variability in terms and methods of reporting race and ethnicity data. Geographic representation was heavily skewed toward the Northeast, with nearly one-quarter of states unrepresented. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that neonatal research may perpetuate inequities by underrepresenting Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous neonates in clinical trials. Studies varied in documentation of race and ethnicity, and there was regional variation in the sites included. Based on these findings, funders and clinical trialists are advised to consider a 3-point targeted approach to address these issues: prioritize identifying ways to increase diversity in neonatal clinical trial participation, agree on a standardized method to report race and ethnicity among neonatal clinical trial participants, and prioritize the inclusion of participants from all regions of the US in neonatal clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison N J Lyle
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Henna Shaikh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Ellie Oslin
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | - Megan M Gray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Elliott Mark Weiss
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics and Palliative Care, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
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Kukora SK, Mychaliska GB, Weiss EM. Ethical challenges in first-in-human trials of the artificial placenta and artificial womb: not all technologies are created equally, ethically. J Perinatol 2023; 43:1337-1342. [PMID: 37400494 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-023-01713-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Artificial placenta and artificial womb technologies to support extremely premature neonates are advancing toward clinical testing in humans. Currently, no recommendations exist comparing these approaches to guide study design and optimal enrollment eligibility adhering to principles of research ethics. In this paper, we will explore how scientific differences between the artificial placenta and artificial womb approaches create unique ethical challenges to designing first-in-human trials of safety and provide recommendations to guide ethical study design for initial human translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie K Kukora
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
- Children's Mercy Bioethics Center, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA.
| | - George B Mychaliska
- Department of Surgery, Section of Pediatric Surgery, Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center, University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Elliott Mark Weiss
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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Rysavy MA, Eggleston B, Dahabreh IJ, Tyson JE, Patel RM, Watterberg KL, Greenberg RG, Pedroza C, Trotta M, Stevenson DK, Stoll BJ, Lally KP, Das A, Blakely ML. Generalizability of the Necrotizing Enterocolitis Surgery Trial to the Target Population of Eligible Infants. J Pediatr 2023; 262:113453. [PMID: 37169336 PMCID: PMC10632546 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate whether infants randomized in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network Necrotizing Enterocolitis Surgery Trial differed from eligible infants and whether differences affected the generalizability of trial results. STUDY DESIGN Secondary analysis of infants enrolled in Necrotizing Enterocolitis Surgery Trial (born 2010-2017, with follow-up through 2019) at 20 US academic medical centers and an observational data set of eligible infants through 2013. Infants born ≤1000 g and diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis or spontaneous intestinal perforation requiring surgical intervention at ≤8 weeks were eligible. The target population included trial-eligible infants (randomized and nonrandomized) born during the first half of the study with available detailed preoperative data. Using model-based weighting methods, we estimated the effect of initial laparotomy vs peritoneal drain had the target population been randomized. RESULTS The trial included 308 randomized infants. The target population included 382 (156 randomized and 226 eligible, non-randomized) infants. Compared with the target population, fewer randomized infants had necrotizing enterocolitis (31% vs 47%) or died before discharge (27% vs 41%). However, incidence of the primary composite outcome, death or neurodevelopmental impairment, was similar (69% vs 72%). Effect estimates for initial laparotomy vs drain weighted to the target population were largely unchanged from the original trial after accounting for preoperative diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (adjusted relative risk [95% CI]: 0.85 [0.71-1.03] in target population vs 0.81 [0.64-1.04] in trial) or spontaneous intestinal perforation (1.02 [0.79-1.30] vs 1.11 [0.95-1.31]). CONCLUSION Despite differences between randomized and eligible infants, estimated treatment effects in the trial and target population were similar, supporting the generalizability of trial results. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01029353.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Rysavy
- McGovern Medical School at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX; Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX.
| | | | - Issa J Dahabreh
- CAUSALab, Department of Epidemiology and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Jon E Tyson
- McGovern Medical School at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX
| | - Ravi M Patel
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | | | | | - Claudia Pedroza
- McGovern Medical School at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX
| | | | | | - Barbara J Stoll
- McGovern Medical School at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Kevin P Lally
- McGovern Medical School at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX; Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX
| | | | - Martin L Blakely
- McGovern Medical School at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX; Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
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12
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Katheria A, Schmolzer G, Law B, Yoder B, Clark E, El-Naggar W, Morales A, Dorner R, Mooso B, Rich W, Vora F, Finer N. Parental Perspectives on a Trial Using Waived Informed Consent at Birth. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3487820. [PMID: 37961362 PMCID: PMC10635395 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3487820/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Objectives To determine parental perspectives in a trial with waived consent. Study Design Biological parents of non-vigorous term infants randomized using a waiver of consent for a delivery room intervention completed an anonymous survey after discharge. Results 121 survey responses were collected. Most responding parents reported that this form of consent was acceptable (92%) and that they would feel comfortable having another child participate in a similar study (96%). The majority (> 90%) also reported that the information provided after randomization was clear to understand future data collection procedures. Four percent had a negative opinion on the study's effect on their child's health. Conclusions The majority of responding parents reported both acceptability of this study design in the neonatal period and that the study had a positive effect on their child's health. Future work should investigate additional ways to involve parents and elicit feedback on varied methods of pediatric consent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wade Rich
- Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns
| | - Farha Vora
- Loma Linda University Children's Hospital
| | - Neiil Finer
- Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns
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13
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Toraman Turk S, Merianos AL, Stone L, Schnadower D, Bouvay K, Mahabee-Gittens EM. "I Don't Want My Child to Be a Guinea Pig": Reasons for Non-Participation in a Parental Tobacco Cessation Trial in the Pediatric Emergency Department Setting. TOXICS 2023; 11:655. [PMID: 37624161 PMCID: PMC10458252 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Pediatric emergency department (PED) settings are opportune venues in which to recruit parental smokers into tobacco cessation interventions. However, the barriers associated with parents' participation in PED-based cessation trials are unknown. The objective was to explore parents' reasons for non-participation in a PED-based tobacco cessation trial. (2) Methods: We employed the framework method and conducted a qualitative data analysis of parental smokers who were eligible to participate in a PED-based tobacco cessation trial and did not choose to participate (n = 371). (3) Results: Two main themes emerged about reasons for non-participation: (a) Not interested in participating in a research study, and (b) concerns specific to the study. Parents had various reasons for not participating in the cessation trial including not being interested in quitting, parents' health and well-being, parents' beliefs about research, and time required for the study and follow-up visits. (4) Conclusion: General disinterest and specific study-related concerns were touted as reasons for non-participation in a PED-based tobacco cessation trial. Given the potential reductions in tobacco-related morbidity to both parents and children that tobacco control interventions can facilitate, future tobacco interventions should consider alterations in study design and recruitment strategies to encourage all eligible parental smokers to participate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinem Toraman Turk
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Global Health Leadership Initiative, Yale University, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ashley L. Merianos
- School of Human Services, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Lara Stone
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 2008, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (L.S.); (E.M.M.-G.)
| | - David Schnadower
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 2008, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (L.S.); (E.M.M.-G.)
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Kamali Bouvay
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 2008, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (L.S.); (E.M.M.-G.)
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - E. Melinda Mahabee-Gittens
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 2008, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; (L.S.); (E.M.M.-G.)
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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14
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Kaczynski M, Benitez G, Mylona EK, Tran QL, Atalla E, Tsikala-Vafea M, Kalagara S, Shehadeh F, Mylonakis E. Factors Associated With Enrollment into Inpatient Coronavirus Disease 2019 Randomized Controlled Trials: A Cross-sectional Analysis. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad197. [PMID: 37180601 PMCID: PMC10173548 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clinical trials for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have struggled to achieve diverse patient enrollment, despite underrepresented groups bearing the largest burden of the disease and, presumably, being most in need of the treatments under investigation. Methods To assess the willingness of patients to enroll into inpatient COVID-19 clinical trials when invited, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 who were approached regarding enrollment. Associations between patient and temporal factors and enrollment were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 926 patients were included in this analysis. Overall, Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity was associated with a nearly half-fold decrease in the likelihood to enroll (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.60 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .41-.88]). Greater baseline disease severity (aOR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.02-1.17]), age 40-64 years (aOR, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.03-3.25]), and age ≥65 years (aOR, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.08-3.42]) were each independently associated with higher likelihood to enroll. Over the course of the pandemic, patients were less likely to enroll during the summer 2021 wave in COVID-19-related hospitalizations (aOR, 0.14 [95% CI, .10-.19]) compared with patients from the first wave in winter 2020. Conclusions The decision to enroll into clinical trials is multifactorial. Amid a pandemic disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups, Hispanic/Latinx patients were less likely to participate when invited, whereas older adults were more likely. Future recruitment strategies must consider the nuanced perceptions and needs of diverse patient populations to ensure equitable trial participation that advances the quality of healthcare for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Kaczynski
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Gregorio Benitez
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Evangelia K Mylona
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Quynh-Lam Tran
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Eleftheria Atalla
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Maria Tsikala-Vafea
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Saisanjana Kalagara
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Fadi Shehadeh
- Infectious Diseases Division, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Correspondence: Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, FIDSA, 6550 Fannin, Smith Tower 1001, Houston, TX 77030 ()
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Bloch-Salisbury E, McKenna L, Boland E, Chin D. Assessment of a hearing protection device on infant sleep in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Sleep Res 2023; 32:e13610. [PMID: 35460141 PMCID: PMC9589402 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Premature infants often require prolonged hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where they are exposed to adverse noise that may disrupt sleep and further compromise recovery and developmental outcomes. This single-session trial assessed the effects of a novel circumaural hearing protection device (DREAMIES®; NEATCAP Medical LLC) on sleep in 10 premature infants (mean 34.1 weeks GA) in a Level III NICU. Using polysomnography (PSG), the infant's sleep was compared between three interfeed periods throughout which DREAMIES® was ON or OFF. Each infant received the same condition order, OFF1-ON-OFF2. The PSG 30 s epochs were scored by a rater masked to the condition as Quiet Sleep, Active Sleep, Indeterminate Sleep, and Wake. There was a 14.1% increase in sleep from OFF1 to ON (p = 0.05) and an 18.4% decrease in sleep from ON to OFF2 (p = 0.02); an analogous inverse effect was observed for wake (χ2 = 5.03, p = 0.08). There was a main effect of DREAMIES on active sleep (χ2 = 7.4, p = 0.025) due to more active sleep for ON1 (46%) compared with OFF2 (32%; p = 0.074). No significant effect was observed for quiet sleep or indeterminate sleep. On average, the sound level was 51 dBA (range 36-113 dBA) and did not differ significantly among the three periods. The strongest relationship between the minute-by-minute maximum sound level and movement actigraphy was observed for the OFF1 condition (ρ0.301, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that DREAMIES® may augment sleep in premature infants by reducing acute episodes of adverse noise in the NICU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Bloch-Salisbury
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School
of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts
Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Lauren McKenna
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts
Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Emma Boland
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts
Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Donald Chin
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts
Medical School, Worcester, MA
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16
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Guttmann KF, Li S, Wu YW, Juul SE, Wilfond BS, Weiss EM. Factors That Impact Hospital-Specific Enrollment Rates for a Neonatal Clinical Trial: An Analysis of the HEAL Study. Ethics Hum Res 2023; 45:29-38. [PMID: 36691692 PMCID: PMC9969810 DOI: 10.1002/eahr.500154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Inconsistent enrollment among hospitals for neonatal clinical trials may lead to study populations that are not representative of the patient population in the neonatal intensive care unit. The High-Dose Erythropoietin for Asphyxia and Encephalopathy (HEAL) trial was a multisite randomized clinical trial investigating erythropoietin as a neuroprotective treatment for term infants (those born between 37 and 42 complete weeks) with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Substantial variability was noted in enrollment rate by hospital. We developed survey questions across five conceptual domains to understand systems-level issues that might contribute to variation in enrollment rate by hospital. Our study found that hospitals varied in their responses across these five domains. We propose three potential reasons that we found a lack of identifiable hospital-level factors that correlated with enrollment rates: sample-size limitations, methodological concerns, and confounding factors. Future studies with a larger sample size should be considered to evaluate contributors to hospital-level variability. This will lead to more robust recruitment strategies, improved enrollment, and decreases in the waste of research resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine F. Guttmann
- assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | - Sijia Li
- doctoral student in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Washington School of Public Health
| | - Yvonne W. Wu
- professor of neurology and pediatrics in the Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
| | - Sandra E. Juul
- professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Benjamin S. Wilfond
- professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute
| | - Elliott Mark Weiss
- associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute
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- Membership of the HEAL Recruitment Collaborative consists of Kaashif Ahmad, Uchenna E. Anani, Laura Bledsoe, Taeun Chang, Leah Engelstad, John B. Feltner, Fernando F. Gonzalez, Katherine F. Guttmann, Erin M. Havrilla, John Ibrahim, Sandra E. Juul, Sijia Li, Elizabeth N. Reichert, David Riley, Elliott Mark Weiss, Benjamin S. Wilfond, Tai-Wei Wu, Yvonne W. Wu, and Toby Debra Yanowitz
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17
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Nathe JM, Oskoui TT, Weiss EM. Parental Views of Facilitators and Barriers to Research Participation: Systematic Review. Pediatrics 2023; 151:e2022058067. [PMID: 36477217 PMCID: PMC9808610 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2022-058067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Low enrollment within pediatric research increases the cost of research, decreases generalizability, and threatens to exacerbate existing health disparities. To assess barriers and facilitators to pediatric research participation and evaluate differences by enrollment status. METHODS Data Sources include PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Web of Science. Study selection include peer reviewed articles that contained information related to facilitators and barriers to the parental decision whether to enroll their child in research and included the views of parents who declined. We extracted barriers and facilitators to research, enrollment status, and study characteristics, including study design, quality, and patient population. RESULTS Seventy articles were included for analysis. Facilitators of participation included: benefits, trust, support of research, informational and consent related, and relational issues. Common facilitators within those categories included health benefit to child (N = 39), altruism (N = 30), and the importance of research (N = 26). Barriers to participation included: study-related concerns, burdens of participation, lack of trust, general research concerns, informational and consent related, and relational issues. Common barriers within those categories included risks to child (N = 46), burdens of participation (N = 35), and the stress of the decision (N = 29). We had a limited ability to directly compare by enrollment status and no ability to analyze interactions between facilitators and barriers. We only included studies written in English. CONCLUSIONS This review identified key facilitators and barriers to research participation in pediatrics. The findings from this review may guide researchers aiming to create interventions to improve the parental experience of recruitment for pediatric studies and to optimize enrollment rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M. Nathe
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Tira T. Oskoui
- David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Elliott Mark Weiss
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
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Morton SU, Schnur M, Kerper R, Young V, O’Connell AE. Premature Infants Have Normal Maturation of the T Cell Receptor Repertoire at Term. Front Immunol 2022; 13:854414. [PMID: 35707545 PMCID: PMC9189380 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.854414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Premature infants are known to have immature immune systems compared to term infants; however, the impacts of ex utero immune development are not well characterized. Our previous retrospective clinical review showed prolonged T cell lymphopenia in a subset of extremely premature infants, suggesting that they may have lasting abnormalities in their T cell compartments. We used T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire sequencing to analyze the composition of the T cell compartment in premature and term infants in our NICU. We collected twenty-eight samples from individual subjects and analyzed the number of clonotypes, repertoire diversity, CDR3 length, and V gene usage between groups based on gestational age at birth and postmenstrual age at the time of sample collection. Further, we examined the TCR repertoire in infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and those with abnormal T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) assays. Former extremely premature infants who were corrected to term postmenstrual age had TCR repertoire diversity that was more similar to term born infants than extremely premature infants, supporting normal maturation of the repertoire. Infants with severe BPD did not appear to have increased abnormalities in repertoire diversity. Decreased TCR repertoire diversity was associated with repeatedly abnormal TREC screening, although the diversity was within the normal range for subjects without low TRECs. This study suggests that extremely premature infants demonstrate normal maturation of the T cell repertoire ex utero. Further work is needed to better characterize postnatal T cell development and function in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah U. Morton
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Maureen Schnur
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rylee Kerper
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Vanessa Young
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Amy E. O’Connell
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Amy E. O’Connell,
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Song L, Jia Y, Ran S, Li B, Xu J, Huo B, Yin N, Ai M, Liu Y. Current situation of pediatric clinical trials in China: focus on trials for drug marketing application and administrative approval. BMC Pediatr 2022; 22:144. [PMID: 35303815 PMCID: PMC8931999 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-022-03208-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Research and development of pediatric drug faces many difficulties and pediatric clinical trials remain a challenge. Since 2011, a series of measures have been taken to encourage research, development of drugs for pediatric patients in China. In this study, we analyzed pediatric clinical trials conducted in China to provide reference for research and development of pediatric drugs and formulation of relevant policies. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of pediatric trials registered in the Drug Trial Registration and Information Publication Platform before Oct. 31, 2021. All trials that recruited children (under 18 years old as defined in China) were retrieved and general characteristics of the trials and the research drugs were extracted and analyzed. The data were extracted and statistically analyzed by excel 2010 and SPSS 22.0, respectively. Results There were 588 registered pediatric clinical trials, which accounted for 3.94% of the total registered trials. The overall average annual growth rate of the number of trials from 2013 to 2020 was 14.47% (P < 0.01). Of the 588 trials included, there were 312 trials (53.06%) with only children as subjects, 127 trials (21.60%) with research drugs only for children use, and the median of target subject number was 320 with the range of 8 to 600,000. The sponsors and the principal investigators were mainly located in the eastern and northern China. 325 trials were vaccine trials, and the dosage form was mainly injection. There were 98 non-vaccine biological product trials (mainly injections), 135 chemical compound drug trials (mainly tablets), 30 traditional Chinese medicine/natural drugs (mainly granules). Indications of the non-vaccine drugs were mainly diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism. Conclusion The number of pediatric clinical trials in China has increased these years. To further promote pediatric clinical trials and motivate pediatric appropriate drug marketing application and administrative approval, conducting large pediatric clinical trials, further development of dosage forms suitable for children with special attention to neonates and prematurity, and improving uneven geographical distribution of sponsors and researchers are the current challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Song
- Department of Pharmacy, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Yuntao Jia
- Department of Pharmacy, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Sujuan Ran
- Department of Pharmacy, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Bennian Huo
- Department of Pharmacy, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Nange Yin
- Department of Pharmacy, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Maolin Ai
- Department of Pharmacy, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
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Bieganek C, Aliferis C, Ma S. Prediction of clinical trial enrollment rates. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263193. [PMID: 35202402 PMCID: PMC8870517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials represent a critical milestone of translational and clinical sciences. However, poor recruitment to clinical trials has been a long standing problem affecting institutions all over the world. One way to reduce the cost incurred by insufficient enrollment is to minimize initiating trials that are most likely to fall short of their enrollment goal. Hence, the ability to predict which proposed trials will meet enrollment goals prior to the start of the trial is highly beneficial. In the current study, we leveraged a data set extracted from ClinicalTrials.gov that consists of 46,724 U.S. based clinical trials from 1990 to 2020. We constructed 4,636 candidate predictors based on data collected by ClinicalTrials.gov and external sources for enrollment rate prediction using various state-of-the-art machine learning methods. Taking advantage of a nested time series cross-validation design, our models resulted in good predictive performance that is generalizable to future data and stable over time. Moreover, information content analysis revealed the study design related features to be the most informative feature type regarding enrollment. Compared to the performance of models built with all features, the performance of models built with study design related features is only marginally worse (AUC = 0.78 ± 0.03 vs. AUC = 0.76 ± 0.02). The results presented can form the basis for data-driven decision support systems to assess whether proposed clinical trials would likely meet their enrollment goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Bieganek
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Constantin Aliferis
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Sisi Ma
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Expecting equity: reimagining the delivery of racial/ethnic representation in neonatal clinical trials. J Perinatol 2022; 42:1-2. [PMID: 34615981 DOI: 10.1038/s41372-021-01225-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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22
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Conducting Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Research During a Pandemic: Challenges and Lessons Learned. Nurs Res 2022; 71:147-152. [PMID: 35212498 PMCID: PMC8881673 DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus pandemic disrupted normal clinical operations and research. Nurse scientists conducting research studies in the neonatal intensive care unit experienced significant challenges to continuing their research studies amid national lockdowns and hospital visitation restrictions. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this article is to describe the challenges encountered by nurse scientists conducting research studies in the neonatal intensive care unit during the pandemic, the creative solutions devised to overcome these barriers, and the lessons learned during this unprecedented time. METHODS Using our pandemic area studies as exemplars, we highlight the barriers encountered in continuing our research in the intense environment of the neonatal intensive care unit. RESULTS Visitor restrictions limited the presence of parents and researchers in the neonatal intensive care unit during the pandemic, causing disruptions to participant recruitment and data collection. Laboratory closures further limited research activities during the pandemic. Strategies to overcome these barriers include building formal collaborations among researchers and clinicians, creating the infrastructure to support virtual recruitment and electronic consent, and developing contingency plans for studies involving the analysis of biological samples. DISCUSSION The neonatal intensive care unit is a unique environment because of vulnerable patient population and need for researchers to interact with parents to recruit study participants. Implementing the strategies developed during the coronavirus pandemic may allow for the continuation of research activities during future public health crises.
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23
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Weiss EM, Guttmann KF, Olszewski AE, Magnus BE, Li S, Kim SYH, Shah AR, Juul SE, Wu YW, Ahmad KA, Bendel-Stenzel E, Isaza NA, Lampland AL, Mathur AM, Rao R, Riley D, Russell DG, Salih ZNI, Torr CB, Weitkamp JH, Anani UE, Chang T, Dudley J, Flibotte J, Havrilla EM, O’Kane AC, Perez K, Stanley BJ, Shah SK, Wilfond BS. Parental Enrollment Decision-Making for a Neonatal Clinical Trial. J Pediatr 2021; 239:143-149.e3. [PMID: 34400207 PMCID: PMC8610170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the parental experience of recruitment and assess differences between parents who participated and those who declined to enroll in a neonatal clinical trial. STUDY DESIGN This was a survey conducted at 12 US neonatal intensive care units of parents of infants who enrolled in the High-dose Erythropoietin for Asphyxia and encephaLopathy (HEAL) trial or who were eligible but declined enrollment. Questions assessed 6 factors of the parental experience of recruitment: (1) interactions with research staff; (2) the consent experience; (3) perceptions of the study; (4) decisional conflict; (5) reasons for/against participation; and (6) timing of making the enrollment decision. RESULTS In total, 269 of 387 eligible parents, including 183 of 242 (75.6%) of those who enrolled their children in HEAL and 86 of 145 (59.3%) parents who declined to enroll their children in HEAL, were included in analysis. Parents who declined to enroll more preferred to be approached by clinical team members rather than by research team members (72.9% vs 49.2%, P = .005). Enrolled parents more frequently reported positive initial impressions (54.9% vs 10.5%, P < .001). Many parents in both groups made their decision early in the recruitment process. Considerations of reasons for/against participation differed by enrollment status. CONCLUSIONS Understanding how parents experience recruitment, and how this differs by enrollment status, may help researchers improve recruitment processes for families and increase enrollment. The parental experience of recruitment varied by enrollment status. These findings can guide future work aiming to inform optimal recruitment strategies for neonatal clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott Mark Weiss
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA.
| | - Katherine F Guttmann
- Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Aleksandra E Olszewski
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Brooke E Magnus
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
| | - Sijia Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington
| | - Scott YH Kim
- Department of Bioethics, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda Maryland
| | - Anita R Shah
- Division of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California
| | - Sandra E Juul
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Yvonne W Wu
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Kaashif A Ahmad
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, San Antonio, Texas
| | | | - Natalia A Isaza
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Andrea L Lampland
- Department of Neonatology, Children’s Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Amit M Mathur
- Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Rakesh Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - David Riley
- Department of Pediatrics, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Texas Christian University and University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine, Fort Worth, Texas
| | - David G Russell
- Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Zeynep N I Salih
- Department of Pediatrics, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Carrie B Torr
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | - Uchenna E Anani
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Taeun Chang
- Department of Neurology, Children’s National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Juanita Dudley
- Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - John Flibotte
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Erin M Havrilla
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Alexandra C O’Kane
- Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Krystle Perez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Seema K Shah
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Benjamin S Wilfond
- Treuman Katz Center for Pediatric Bioethics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
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24
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Burris HH, Duncan AF. Rethinking How to Persuade More Parents From Diverse or Disadvantaged Backgrounds to Enroll Infants in Neonatal Clinical Trials. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2032137. [PMID: 33433592 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.32137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Heather H Burris
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
| | - Andrea F Duncan
- Division of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia
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