What are clinical trials?
First, let’s accurately define what clinical trials are. Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for humans. These studies also may show which medical approaches work best for certain illnesses or groups of people. Clinical trials, also known as “clinical research studies”, or “clinical studies”, are studies in human volunteers that try to answer specific health questions. Some clinical trials measure the safety and effectiveness of potential new treatments. Other clinical trials observe health issues and behaviors in large groups of people.
Related: Clinical Trials & Black Folks: 5 FAQs Answered
Now, consider these facts:
1. Because Black Americans don’t participate in clinical trials, the data is limited on how Blacks respond to various treatments. When Black Americans participate in clinical trials, they help improve the health of all people and provide a greater understanding of health disparities.
2. New medicines being developed are sub-optimal for Black Americans because most of the clinical trials conducted in this country suffer from this pronounced lack of diversity which can further exacerbate minority health disparities.
3. Clinical trials are not only for sick people. In many cases, healthy participants are needed so they can study lifestyles and understand behaviors that may ultimately lead to illness.
4. It is rare that clinical trial volunteers have been hurt by the treatment or procedure being tested. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people have been helped and are alive because they or other people chose to participate in a trial that resulted in a new, more effective treatment.
5. Clinical trials are closely monitored for safe and ethical treatment of volunteers. Federal guidelines and codes of ethics are in place to protect clinical research volunteers from harm. In addition, an Institutional Review Board, a panel of professionals and community members, is responsible for monitoring study safety and protecting volunteer rights in every clinical trial.
So what can we do?