BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - November 13, 2007) - Although the overwhelming majority of physicians
in the United States have high interest in participating in clinical
research studies, the actual participation rate of minority and female
physicians is relatively low, according to a study recently completed by
the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development.
The study, which investigated minority and gender disparities among
clinical research investigators, found that 16.9% of White physicians
participate as principal investigators in clinical studies, compared to 14%
of Black physicians, and 10.8% of Hispanic and 9.6% of Asian doctors.
When examined by gender, only 10.9% of female physicians participate as
principal investigators, compared to 16.9% of male physicians, the study
found. Moreover, minority and female clinical investigators initiate far
fewer clinical trials annually than do their White or male counterparts.
"More than 70% of all physicians, regardless of race or gender, tell us
they have a strong desire to participate in clinical research, but a number
of factors are dissuading them from doing so," said Ken Getz, a senior
research fellow at the Tufts Center, who conducted the study.
He said that time constraints and lack of infrastructure, such as dedicated
personnel and office space, are key barriers that minority physicians said
prevent them from participating as investigators at the same level as White
physicians. Female physicians cited time constraints and infrastructure
needs as the major obstacles for them.
The study, based on surveys of nearly 1,400 physicians, assessed the
incidence of participation as clinical investigators and gathered
descriptive and attitudinal data on clinical trial participation. Physician
race was determined by self-report, and survey choices were consistent with
U.S. Census Bureau classifications.
The results, reported in the November/December Tufts CSDD Impact Report,
released today, also found that:
-- More than half of Black (51%) and Hispanic (57%) physicians consider a
physician's race an important factor in influencing minority patient
participation in clinical research, compared to White (9%) and Asian (21%)
physicians.
-- Minority physicians are less likely to refer their patients into clinical
studies than White physicians (38% vs. 47%, respectively). Of physicians
who refer patients, White and Black physicians, on average, refer twice as
many patients to studies as do Asian and Hispanic physicians.
-- Female investigators, who annually initiate one-third the number of
studies that male investigators initiate, report that distrust of the
health care system and child care issues are major factors limiting their
patients' participation in clinical research.
About the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development
The Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (
http://csdd.tufts.edu)
at Tufts University provides strategic information to help drug developers,
regulators, and policy makers improve the quality and efficiency of
pharmaceutical development, review, and utilization. Tufts CSDD, based in
Boston, conducts a wide range of in-depth analyses on pharmaceutical issues
and hosts symposia, workshops, and public forums, and publishes the Tufts
CSDD Impact Report, a bi-monthly newsletter providing analysis and insight
into critical drug development issues.
Contact Information: Contact:
Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development
Charlene Neu
617-636-2187
Business Communication Strategies
Peter Lowy
617-734-9980