EPH 619 Reading Response

In her 2020 article, Morgan quoted a study that found 19% of research studies closed due to lack
of accrual. In her 2022 study, Morgan points out that the limiting factor for low participation is the lack of
opportunity.
Often, the challenge of medical research is framed in terms of maintaining funding and proving
efficacy, however, Morgan notes another large challenge is garnering research participants. The diversity
of research participants is a considerable barrier to overcome, but a crucial one to creating treatment
programs or identifying pharmaceutical treatments that work for people other than the historical standard
of white male patients.
Morgan goes on to identify sophisticated communication strategies for better patient recruitment.
One proven strategy is a comprehensive campaign where mass media, and education for all hospital staff,
led to increased accrual of trial participants. Another interesting argument she pulls from Yang et al. is
that optimistic feelings lead to more careful information processing, ultimately leading to increased
recruitment rates and patients are more open to hearing about the risks and benefits of a situation.
Overcoming health literacy barriers and lack of trust in the medical field by groups that have historically
been taken advantage of within the healthcare field.
I really resonated with the idea that we should not make patients more trusting, but rather should
make medicine and its adjacent entities more trustworthy (Wynia & Gamble, 2006). I think the people in
medicine inherently think of themselves as trustworthy, as many enter the field to “help others.” I’ve seen
physicians and other HCWs get insulted at the idea that their suggestions are maligned, even if it’s not
directly in front of the patient. However, it is important to step back and view the situation outside of our
perspective. I think it will take humility and open-mindedness to shift the internal narrative in medicine
about clinical trials. I am certain preconceived ideas limit the availability of offering clinical trials to
patients of certain demographics thinking they would not be interested, and not wanting to waste precious
time as a clinician. Or, knowing that it would be a long conversation due to low health literacy or lack of
background knowledge. However, these are all insufficient excuses—medicine needs to invest in hiring
and training clinical research professionals to prioritize the issue of the lack of diverse research
participants.

Discussion Question: Morgan mentions “it is unlikely that increased knowledge and awareness alone will
move the needle.” Along with increasing literature showing patient education is one of the least effective
interventions, why do you think medicine still has a focus on knowledge and awareness?