Recruiting a Diverse Subject Population

ObvioHealth focused on recruiting minorities, given that high blood pressure disproportionately impacts the black population in the U.S. The protocol called for thirty percent of the trial population to be black, well above the clinical trial average, and even then, ObvioHealth outpaced the protocol requirements.

Of the 130 total subjects successfully enrolled, 60 percent considered themselves to be a race other than white. The study enrolled 53 black subjects, 51 white, and 26 subjects listed as races other than white. This is well above the national standards. How did ObvioHealth attract minority subjects to the trial?

1. ObvioHealth chose diverse, urban locations for the two trial sites, one in Houston (22.8 percent black population) and the other in Atlanta (52.29 percent black population). Digital recruitment tactics on social media allowed for geo-targeting.
2. ObvioHealth used diversity in all of its marketing collateral and created a diverse recruitment team to ensure recruiters weren’t subconsciously recruiting through a “white lens.”
3. ObvioHealth minimized the financial and logistical burdens of participation by using its digital platform to reduce required site visits and increase communication and trust.

Digital Clinical Trial Enrollment and Minority Populations

The trial was conducted in a hybrid manner. The 18-week study required six site visits, but outside of those site visits data for the study was collected through a digital application on their phones.

This digital element allowed data to be collected in real-time, reducing the need for more site visits and the inconvenience that so often drives subjects away. When a site visit was required, subjects could schedule visits through the app on their phones. Appointment reminders were sent directly to the subjects’ phones.

In digital trials, patient engagement often increases, allowing more touches with the patient, even despite fewer site visits. In this study, subjects could instant message the study team directly at any point. Instead of calling the study team and waiting for a return call, conversations were hosted through the secure app, offering unprecedented access to the study PI. This provides minorities with the ability to ask questions in real-time, and it helps them to feel comfortable, as opposed to the standard approach.

While the digital trial model won’t solve all of the industry’s problems with inclusion, it can help. In an era where access to healthcare and health education are not equal among the races, smartphone ownership and usage is universal. Could digital clinical trials conducted via smartphones be the great equalizer in clinical research?