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Ramos E, Baca-Motes K, Pandit JA, Ajayi TA. Improving participant representation in the era of digital clinical studies. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:1019-1021. [PMID: 35995691 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Traditional clinical research relies on conventional strategies to invite and enroll research participants. However, these strategies often fail to reach potential participants from marginalized communities or that reflect the diversity of the nation, such as race, ethnicity, or geography. As we discuss here, the digital clinical study model sets the stage for improved and equitable participation in biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Ramos
- Scripps Research Translational Institute, 3344 N Torrey Pines Ct Plaza Level, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; CareEvolution, 625 N Main St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.
| | - Katie Baca-Motes
- Scripps Research Translational Institute, 3344 N Torrey Pines Ct Plaza Level, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jay A Pandit
- Scripps Research Translational Institute, 3344 N Torrey Pines Ct Plaza Level, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Toluwalase A Ajayi
- Scripps Research Translational Institute, 3344 N Torrey Pines Ct Plaza Level, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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Parks AM, Duffecy J, McCabe JE, Blankstein Breman R, Milgrom J, Hirshler Y, Gemmill AW, Segre LS, Felder JN, Uscher-Pines L. Lessons Learned Recruiting and Retaining Pregnant and Postpartum Individuals in Digital Trials: Viewpoint. JMIR Pediatr Parent 2022; 5:e35320. [PMID: 35107422 PMCID: PMC9037306 DOI: 10.2196/35320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In an increasingly connected world and in the midst of a global pandemic, digital trials offer numerous advantages over traditional trials that rely on physical study sites. Digital trials have the potential to improve access to research and clinical treatments for the most vulnerable and minoritized, including pregnant and postpartum individuals. However, digital trials are underutilized in maternal and child health research, and there is limited evidence to inform the design and conduct of digital trials. Our research collaborative, consisting of 5 research teams in the U.S. and Australia, aimed to address this gap. We collaborated to share lessons learned from our experiences recruiting and retaining pregnant and postpartum individuals in digital trials of social and behavioral interventions. We first discuss the promise of digital trials in improving participation in research during the perinatal period, as well as the unique challenges they pose. Second, we present lessons learned from 12 completed and ongoing digital trials that have used platforms such as Ovia, Facebook, and Instagram for recruitment. Our trials evaluated interventions for breastfeeding, prenatal and postpartum depression, insomnia, decision making, and chronic pain. We focus on challenges and lessons learned in 3 key areas: (1) rapid recruitment of large samples with a diversity of minoritized identities, (2) retention of study participants in longitudinal studies, and (3) prevention of fraudulent enrollment. We offer concrete strategies that we pilot-tested to address these challenges. Strategies presented in this commentary can be incorporated, as well as formally evaluated, in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Parks
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Jennifer Duffecy
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Jennifer E McCabe
- Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States
| | | | - Jeannette Milgrom
- Parent-Infant Research Institute, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Yafit Hirshler
- Parent-Infant Research Institute, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alan W Gemmill
- Parent-Infant Research Institute, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lisa S Segre
- College of Nursing, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Jennifer N Felder
- Osher Center for Integrative Health, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
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