Presented By:

Sally Tenorio, RN, BSN, CCA; Colin O’Donnell, MS, Statistical Analyst; David Lynch, M.D.; Jhenny Hernandez, BSBA

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO CANCER CENTER

Abstract

Purpose

There has been insufficient representation of Hispanics in clinical trials.  The purpose of this article is to identify known barriers to recruitment, and demonstrate how the use of consultants and specialized recruitment and enrollment techniques by the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) at theUniversityofColoradoatDenverwere necessary to increase participation of Hispanics.

Methods

Recruitment methods used for the general population in NLST had resulted in a very low percentage of representation for Hispanics.  Special efforts were granted to the NSLT site inDenver,Coloradoto enhance enrollment of Hispanics into the clinical trial.  The specific plan used was a mirror image of recruitment methods used by the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial at theirDenversite.  This particular plan focused on personal contact by use of bi-lingual and/or bi-cultural consultants, seminars, churches and using appropriate written language and pictorials specific to Hispanics.

Results

As a result of the challenges in recruitment of Hispanics into the PLCO Study a form was developed asking Hispanic Participants to identify who they were.  This resulted in 19 variances of race and ethnicity covered within the term “Hispanic”, as appropriated by an initiative of the Census Bureau in 1973.    Using our recruitment plan resulted in recruitment of Hispanics from 87/2635 (3.30 %) before Hispanic Recruitment began, to 353/3743 (9.43%), resulting in an overall increase in the percentage by 6.13%.    Recruitment was stopped abruptly as the NLST Trial had reached their recruitment goals early.

Conclusions:

A specific technically designed program using bi-lingual and bi-cultural staff and lay consultants allowed a dramatic increase in recruit