ACTA Clinical Trial Diversity: CALD project

Topics:Consumer Engagement

The Australian Clinical Trials Alliance, on behalf investigator-led research sector and informed by the strengthening consumer involvement in clinical trials program, advocates for action to improve clinical research equity (including clinical trials), with and for, all underrepresented and under served groups within Australia. 

To advance this ACTA has recently been undertaking a project seeking to understand more about approaches to improve clinical trial awareness, involvement, and access, with and for, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Recognising the reciprocal benefits to both research and CALD communities that can be achieved through collaboration and partnership. 

The project has focused on several activities over 12 months to explore this further, including:

  • Preliminary mapping of initiatives: seeking to improve clinical research participation, with and for, people from CALD backgrounds (refer to workshop report below for a summary of findings)
  • Environmental scan: clinical trial awareness and access amongst culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations (read the report below)
  • Building relationships and engaging with key sector National and International stakeholders: to progress the issue and, when relevant, contributing to ongoing sector projects to enhance clinical trial diversity for people from CALD backgrounds. 
  • Delivering a clinical trials awareness education session for people from CALD backgrounds
  • National clinical trial diversity workshop with and for people from CALD backgrounds (read the report below)
  • National position statement to advocate for change and action to improve clinical trial (research) awareness, involvement, and access with and for people from CALD backgrounds (read the statement below).

Resource Documents

ACTA Clinical trial awareness and access amongst culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations: environmental scan

Type of resource: pdf

ACTA

The Australian Clinical Trials Alliance, on behalf investigator-led research sector and informed by the strengthening consumer involvement in clinical trials program, reviewed national and international initiatives aimed to increase participation in clinical trials by people from different ethnic backgrounds to further understand how to improve and develop sustainable clinical trial awareness, involvement, and access strategies for the CALD populations in Australia.

PDF (the link opens in a new window)

Advancing clinical trial awareness, involvement and access with and for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds: National workshop report

Type of resource: pdf

ACTA’s Reference Group on Strengthening Consumer Engagement in Clinical Trials is committed to ensuring that health consumers (patients and people who use healthcare services) from CALD backgrounds have a greater awareness of, involvement in, and access to clinical trials, with opportunities to shape research that develops new ways to treat or prevent diseases and health conditions.

In June 2020 ACTA held a virtual clinical trial diversity workshop with the following objectives:

  • Bring together a diverse group of stakeholders from CALD backgrounds and the research sector to share experiences and activities to improve clinical trial diversity
  • Discuss opportunities to improve clinical trial awareness, involvement, and access for people from CALD backgrounds within the Australian context
  • Develop a national position statement to support the development of recommendations to improve clinical trial (research) awareness, involvement and access for people from CALD backgrounds.

A summary of the report can be accessed below, including the key discussion points and ideas explored by the workshop participants, including additional comments from the post feedback survey.

PDF (the link opens in a new window)

Advancing clinical trial awareness, involvement and access with and for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds: National Position Statement

Type of resource: pdf

This document is a position statement of equity in clinical trials developed by ACTA in consultation with key research sector stakeholders. This statement provides the foundational and core principles supporting the equitable and inclusive engagement of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in clinical trials.

PDF (the link opens in a new window)

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