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Press release
Thursday July 29, 2021
Outreach Pro aimed to increase the participation of the under-represented population.
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched a new online research tool to help increase the participation of traditionally under-represented populations in clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementias. Unveiled at the Alzheimer’s Association (AAIC) International Conference, Outreach Pro enables those involved in cutting-edge clinical research to create and personalize participant recruiting communications such as websites, documents, videos and social media posts.
“We are facing a critical and growing need for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as people at higher risk and healthy people, to participate in clinical trials,” said the director of the NIA, Richard J. Hodes MD. “This need is particularly acute for frequently under-represented groups such as black and Hispanic Americans, which is why Outreach Pro emphasizes helping clinical trial researchers connect with these communities and others. important.
Outreach Pro is an integral part of the NIA’s efforts to implement the National Strategy for Recruitment and Participation in Clinical Research in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias. Released in 2018, the national strategy was developed in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association with input from government, the private sector, academics and industry stakeholders, as well as individuals, caregivers and participants in the study. The overall goal is to engage broader segments of the public, including under-represented populations, to participate in clinical research in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
“It is essential that clinical trials have an appropriate representation to ensure that we have a full understanding of the effectiveness of different therapies or approaches to dementia care in different populations,” said Holly Massett, Ph.D., advisor NIA’s principal in recruitment and engagement, which oversees the implementation of the national strategy. “Outreach Pro was designed to provide well-tested and culturally appropriate outreach material that resonates with diverse populations and encourages them to participate in clinical trials. “
To use Outreach Pro, researchers and clinicians first select the desired models with one of three communication goals in mind: 1) educate about Alzheimer’s disease, associated dementias and / or human health. brain ; 2) to increase awareness and interest in clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias; or, 3) to provide information on a specific clinical trial in Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia that is currently recruiting participants. Each template can then be personalized using a central library of posts, titles, photos and texts that have been extensively tested with people representing diverse and underserved populations.
Outreach Pro’s current content library includes materials designed specifically for a wide range of audiences, including Black Americans and Hispanics / Latinos. Initially, the material will be available in English and Spanish, and plans are underway to add Asian American and Pacific Island resources and languages by fall 2021. Materials for Native American and Indigenous communities Alaska will be developed and added in 2022.
The NIA has developed Outreach Pro and its content systematically using literature reviews, environmental scans, listening sessions with stakeholders, focus groups, national surveys and user testing. The NIA team has created tool features in a culturally appropriate way, so that all stages of content development reflect the culture and languages of the communities for which the material is designed. The NIA plans to add content and increase the capabilities of the tool based on feedback and performance measurement.
Outreach Pro expands the NIA’s dedicated recruiting diversity resources. For example, in 2020, the NIA funded four exploratory Alzheimer’s disease research centers that will expand research initiatives with under-represented groups, including black Americans, Native Americans, and those in rural communities. In 2019, the NIA launched ADORE (Alzheimer and Dementia Outreach, Recruitment and Engagement) resources. The ADORE repository provides the research community with resources to support the recruitment and retention of volunteers in clinical trials and studies.
In total, the NIA supports 270 clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, including those focused on lifestyle interventions and care. Late-stage trials often include thousands of participants, requiring even more volunteers to help researchers meet recruitment goals for diversity.
Masset will present Outreach Pro: The National Institute on Aging (NIA) online tool for recruiting and engaging AD / ADRD clinical studies with diverse and underserved populations, at AAIC on Friday 30 July 2021, 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. MDT. Press information for AAIC is available at www.alz.org/aaic/pressroom.asp.
About the National Institute of Aging (NIA): NIA is leading the US federal government’s effort to conduct and support research on aging and the health and well-being of older adults. Learn more about age-related cognitive changes and neurodegenerative diseases through the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Education and Reference Center (ADEAR) website. Visit the NIA’s main website for information on a range of aging topics, in English and Spanish, and stay connected.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):The NIH, the national agency for medical research, comprises 27 institutes and centers and is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The NIH is the principal federal agency that conducts and supports basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and studies the causes, treatments, and cures for common and rare diseases. For more information about the NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
NIH… Transforming Discovery into Health®
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