Patient participation in clinical trials conducted by principal investigators who speak one or more language(s) beyond english: Exploring ethnicity as proxy for language

Abstract

Background

To explore the association between ethnicity, as a proxy for language, and participation in clinical trials (CT) conducted by Principal Investigators (PI) who speak one or more language in addition to English.

Methods

This retrospective, descriptive study utilized CT participant demographic data extracted from the largest Midwestern non-profit healthcare system between January 1, 2019 and 12/31/2021. The CT participant sample (N = 4308) was divided for comparison: CT Participants of Hispanic or Latino Origin (N = 254; 5.90 %) and CT Participants of Non-Hispanic or Latino Origin (N = 4054; 94.10 %). Logistic regressions were performed to generate the crude and adjusted odds of patients of Hispanic or Latino origin participating in CTs conducted by PIs who speak another language in addition to English.

Results

Crude analysis revealed that patients of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity had 2.04 (1.58, 2.64) times greater odds of participating in CTs conducted by PIs who speak another language than English (<0.0001), which increased to 2.67 (1.97, 3.62) times greater odds after adjusting for sex, race, age and insurance (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Overall findings indicate that patients of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, who are more likely to speak Spanish, have greater odds of participating in CTs conducted by PIs who speak another language beyond English. This may imply that cultural sensitivity at the top of a CT study team, as likely to be demonstrated by PIs who speak another language beyond English, may be an important contributor to reducing ethnicity- and language-based barriers to diversity in CTs and a relationship worth exploring further.