Disabled Commonly Excluded From Clinical Trial Eligibility
Published: 2022-10-03
Author: Brigham and Women’s Hospital | Contact: brighamandwomens.org
Peer-Reviewed Publication: Yes | DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00520
Jump to: Definition: Clinical Trials | Main Digest | Publications
Synopsis: Despite constituting the largest minority group in the U.S. and expressing interest in participating in clinical trials, people with disabilities remain excluded. The research team found that protocol eligibility criteria frequently had language that could be used to exclude people with disabilities, including people who have psychiatric, substance use, cognitive or intellectual, or other impairments. The exclusion of people with disabilities from clinical research is counter to federal regulations and research guidelines, reduces access to the potential benefits of participation, limits study generalizability, and, without appropriate justification, is discriminatory.
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Definition
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies performed on people that evaluate a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention. They are the primary way that researchers determine if a new treatment, like a new drug, diet, or medical device, is safe and effective for people. Often a clinical trial is used to learn if a new treatment is more effective and/or has fewer harmful side effects than the standard treatment. People volunteer to participate in clinical trials to test medical interventions, [...]