R&S Academy Orig Research
Monday, October 14, 2024
01:00 PM–02:30 PM
Abstract
Introduction: Ensuring representation of racial and ethnic minority populations (REMP) as participants in clinical trials is a challenge in biomedical research. The Pharmacy Advances Clinical Trials (PACT) Network is being developed to address this by capitalizing on the accessibility of pharmacists. The network will engage community pharmacists, community-based organizations, and pharmacy schools. Pharmacy schools’ current role in this space is unknown.
Research Question or Hypothesis: Are pharmacy schools participating in activities to diversify clinical trials, and if so, what are the characteristics of these activities?
Study Design: This was a qualitative study.
Methods: A preliminary environmental scan survey with open-ended questions was distributed to nine pharmacy schools, selected for participation based on prior knowledge of activities related to clinical trials and diversity occurring at the schools. A code book, including non-mutually exclusive categories and tags grouped into themes, was created in advance and then refined based on scan results. Three investigators independently coded the activities until consensus was reached. Participants provided feedback on coding.
Results: The environmental scan found fourteen distinct activities conducted at five institutions. Activities were coded into categories: “Research”, “Education”, and “Service”, with each activity having one primary category and secondary categories, as appropriate. Primary category coding resulted in ten “Research” activities, three “Education” activities, and one “Service” activity. In total, nine activities dealt with “Education” and four dealt with “Service”. Activities were tagged with characteristics in the following themes: Collaborators and Partners, Disease States, Engagement/Communication Strategies, Funding Source, and Target Audience.
Conclusion: Pharmacy schools are working to diversify clinical trial participants, especially through research and education activities. The environmental scan will be expanded to all pharmacy schools with a modified tool and results will be made available in a public online database. Results will inform the scope of future PACT Network activities to connect pharmacy schools with pharmacies and community-based organizations.
Presenting Author
Miranda Steinkopf PharmDAmerican Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Authors
Dorothy Farrell PhD
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Terri Moore PhD, MBA, RPh, CPH
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Marcia Ory PhD, MPH
Texas A&M University
Keny Rosa MPH
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy