The American Lung Association has released a new technical report highlighting the low participation of Hispanic patients in lung cancer clinical trials and outlining steps to improve their inclusion and access to healthcare.
According to the association, while Hispanics make up nearly 19% of the U.S. population, they account for only 6% of participants in clinical trials. This underrepresentation limits access to advanced medical treatments and hampers research efforts aimed at improving outcomes for all lung cancer patients.
“Los ensayos clínicos ofrecen a los pacientes acceso a tratamientos innovadores y pueden prolongar la vida —pero con demasiada frecuencia, las personas hispanas quedan fuera”, señaló Harold Wimmer, presidente y director ejecutivo de la American Lung Association. “Este informe pone en evidencia un problema de larga data y propone soluciones prácticas, basadas en la comunidad, para garantizar que más pacientes puedan beneficiarse de los avances médicos”
The report is part of the association’s Conciencia, Confianza y Acción program, which aims to educate Hispanic communities about clinical trials and encourage discussions with healthcare providers regarding treatment options. Clinical trials are described as highly monitored research studies that help test ways to prevent diseases, new methods for detection or diagnosis, and novel treatments. The association notes that every participant receives high-quality medical care and that for many lung cancer patients, the most suitable treatment option may be available through a clinical trial.
Key barriers limiting participation were identified in the report. In response to these challenges, the American Lung Association proposes several strategies designed to address them.
“Este informe es un llamado a la acción para la comunidad investigadora, los profesionales de la salud y los responsables de políticas públicas”, añadió Wimmer. “Si mejoramos el acceso y eliminamos las barreras a la participación, podemos garantizar que más personas tengan la oportunidad de beneficiarse de los últimos avances en el tratamiento del cáncer de pulmón”.
The organization encourages stakeholders to read the full report and collaborate on building a more inclusive and equitable system for clinical trials that serves all communities. The complete report can be accessed here.
This project received partial support from Genentech.
