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In this MD Newsline exclusive interview with family medicine physician Dr. Alexis Smith, we discuss how to increase LGBTQ+ recruitment and enrollment in clinical trials.

MD Newsline:

How can we improve recruitment and enrollment of LGBTQ+ people in clinical trials?

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Dr. Alexis Smith:

“We need to show LGBTQ+ people how much we care about them as a population and why we are doing these clinical trials with them is because we care about them and we care about their health. I think as long as we make that message very clear, they’ll be willing to participate.

Anyone wouldn’t want to participate in something if they’re fearful that the people running the trial don’t care about them. But, if we make it apparent that we care, we can improve LGBTQ+ recruitment and enrollment in clinical trials.

So again, I think pronoun badges, inclusive posters, inclusive materials in waiting rooms, having very open discussions, and expressing our inclusivity as providersโ€”are all so important. I think that once they see that we are on their side, they will be open toโ€”I’m saying they, I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community, but I feel that I also would be more open toโ€”participate in something if someone put it in that context.”

 

Responses have been condensed and lightly edited.

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