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Tips for Researchers Looking to Recruit More Pregnant Black Women
It boils down to trust, communication, education, and building a presence within the community.
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IRBs Strive to Improve Consistency of Study Protocol Decisions
Is a study protocol OK to go forward? Or are many changes needed for recruitment, consent, or other processes? IRB decisions often are inconsistent on these points — even at the same institution, and sometimes at the same IRB.
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Preventing Age Disparities in Cancer Trials
A leading researcher explains why patients should have equity regarding their ability to access clinical trials, to the greatest extent reasonably possible, in this Q&A.
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Analyses: Older Patients Excluded from Many Research Studies
Investigators learned age disparities were worse for industry-funded trials; for trials with enrollment criteria restrictions based on age cutoffs or performance status; for trials that evaluated a targeted, systemic therapy; and for lung cancer trials.
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Lack of Basic Knowledge on Clinical Trials Makes Study Recruitment Harder
Survey respondents with a history of cancer and those who have heard of ClinicalTrials.gov knew more about trials. Such knowledge also was more abundant among college graduates and those who had been asked to participate in a trial.
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More Than 2,000 Consent Forms Posted Publicly
Creators of federally funded studies have been mandated to post informed consent documents on ClinicalTrials.gov ever since the revised Common Rule requirements became effective in January 2019. However, it was unclear how many or what kind of consent forms were posted — and who was posting the forms. A group of investigators set out to answer these rudimentary questions.
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Much Remains for IRBs to Learn About Performance Measurement
One researcher argues a more appropriate definition of IRB quality is how well the board implements the Common Rule — not just mere compliance, but how well boards put the Common Rule into effect.
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IRBs Determine Acceptable Risk for Pediatric Studies
IRBs may be disinclined to approve study protocols based on the mistaken belief there is little public support for net-risk pediatric research. Thus, researchers should show IRBs data on the risks of the interventions in question. To demonstrate the study’s social value, researchers could explain how the approach under investigation could help address an important health condition.
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Researchers Encounter Challenges with Study Development Protocols
Tutorial videos and webinars, in-person training, and sample forms are some of the ways researchers try to keep up with IRB protocols to prevent any study delays.
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Citizen Science Projects Surging, But Often Lack IRB Ethical Oversight
Failure to return results, exploitation of participants, poor quality data, and power imbalance are top ethical worries. Citizen scientists should pay attention to issues of power and exploitation, and think about what processes to use to stay ahead of those concerns.