The approaches taken by sponsors and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) for diversity and inclusion have not been effectively reaching the Arab American community. To improve this situation, the Arab Board for Clinical Research suggests including culturally competent recruitment strategies, language accessibility, community engagement and education, patient navigators or cultural liaisons, diverse study sites, sensitivity training, collaboration with Arab American researchers, data collection and reporting, outreach through digital platforms, and use of Arabic language in promotional materials.

Developing culturally sensitive recruitment strategies in collaboration with community organizations and healthcare providers who have established trust within Arab American communities. Providing study materials, including informed consent forms, in Arabic to improve comprehension and eliminate language barriers. Directly engaging with Arab American communities through cultural gatherings, informational sessions, and educational campaigns to dispel myths, address concerns, and promote clinical research. Employing coordinators who can serve as bridges between research teams and Arab American participants, providing cultural guidance and language support. Ensuring that study sites are geographically accessible to Arab American populations, potentially partnering with healthcare institutions serving these communities. Providing sensitivity training to research staff to promote cultural competency and awareness when interacting with Arab American participants. Collaborating with Arab American researchers who have firsthand knowledge of the community’s needs and effective engagement strategies. Collecting and reporting comprehensive demographic data, including specific ethnic or ancestral backgrounds, to monitor representation and inform targeted strategies. Leveraging online platforms, social media, and targeted digital advertising to reach Arab American audiences with culturally relevant messaging. Incorporating Arabic language in promotional materials, flyers, and social media platforms to make information more accessible.

Technology has played a significant role in increasing diversity in clinical trials through outreach and recruitment, remote participation, multilingual support, data collection and analysis, and bias detection and mitigation.

Enabling broader outreach and improved access to diverse populations through online platforms, social media, and digital advertising campaigns. Allowing individuals to participate in trials without physical presence, eliminating barriers like travel constraints and geographical limitations. Facilitating multilingual support in trials through translation tools, multilingual websites, and electronic informed consent forms. Making data collection and analysis more efficient and accurate through electronic data capture systems, wearable devices, and mobile health applications. Identifying and mitigating biases in trial design and data analysis using machine learning algorithms.

Establishing new research sites in or near Arab American communities offers several advantages, including access to underrepresented communities, trust and cultural understanding, community outreach and education, language and cultural sensitivity, representation and generalizability, and network expansion and collaboration.

Providing better access to underrepresented groups and individuals who may face barriers like distance or lack of awareness. Fostering trust and building relationships with the communities through staff who have cultural understanding. Actively engaging in community outreach and education initiatives, partnering with local organizations and leaders. Offering language support and culturally sensitive practices within research sites. Ensuring that study results are representative of the broader population, including various ethnic, cultural, and regional factors. Expanding the network of collaborating institutions and healthcare professionals to support each other in participant recruitment and engagement.

Sponsors of clinical trials can promote diversity and inclusion by building trusting relationships, conducting education campaigns, providing culturally competent recruitment strategies, removing barriers, including diverse representation in research teams, and by accurately collecting data report dissemination.

Establishing long-term relationships with diverse communities by engaging with community leaders, healthcare providers, and cultural organizations. Increasing knowledge about clinical trials and their benefits among underrepresented populations. Designing strategies tailored to the cultural, linguistic, and social contexts of diverse populations. Identifying and addressing systemic barriers, such as transportation challenges and language barriers. Promoting diversity within research teams to ensure cultural competence and understanding. Collecting comprehensive demographic data to monitor representation throughout the research process.

Challenges Faced by the Arab American Community:

The Arab American community faces several challenges in participating in research, including language barriers, limited awareness, trust issues, socioeconomic disparities, lack of diversity in research teams, and stigma.

To interact with the Arab American community and increase their participation in clinical research, sites and sponsors can employ innovative approaches, such as community partnerships, culturally tailored outreach, trusted community ambassadors, mobile clinics, health literacy programs, community education forums, patient navigator programs, virtual engagement, and dissemination of results.

To make it easier for the Arab American community to participate in research, sites and sponsors can offer language accessibility, cultural competence, community outreach, collaborative decision-making, accessible study locations, flexibility in study visits, financial support, simplified study procedures, and patient navigator programs.

Promoting diversity and inclusion in clinical research is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and innovative approaches. By addressing the challenges faced by the Arab American community and implementing effective strategies, we can ensure that clinical trials are more representative, equitable, and beneficial to all.

Hadi Danawi, Ph.D.

Hadi Danawi, Ph.D., is a professor in global public health and epidemiology. He is actively engaged in industrywide projects relating to remote consulting, higher education (master and doctoral programs in public health/healthcare administration), and clinical trial design and management. Danawi created the Arab Board for Clinical Research to promote diversity and inclusion of Arabs and Arab Americans in clinical research, the use of DCTs, and education and staffing of Arabs and Arab Americans in clinical research.

Danawi has expertise with pharmaco-epidemiology and drug safety/pharmacovigilance with Big Pharma, including outcomes research and RWE. He is passionate about creating positive social change in underserved communities in Africa and the Middle East and so established a not-for-profit organization with chapters in Lebanon and Ghana to provide technical assistance for project implementation, curriculum development, and training of local associates for self-reliance in disease prevention, health services, and family and community health initiatives.