Confronting diversity in the production of clinical evidence goes beyond merely including under-represented groups in clinical trials

Trials

Anita Hardon²  Nicolien F Wieringa¹  Karien Stronks³ 

[1] Communication Department, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands;Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Department of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

关键词: Clinical trials;    Diversity;    Evidence-based medicine;   

Others  :  1093689
DOI  :  10.1186/1745-6215-14-177

 received in 2012-11-02, accepted in 2013-06-06,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

There is increasing evidence that outcomes of health care differ by patient characteristics, such as gender and ethnicity. If evidence-based medicine is to improve quality of care for all patients, it is essential to take this diversity into account when designing clinical studies. So far, this notion has mainly been translated into recommendations for including minority populations in trials. We argue that a more comprehensive view of the production of diversity-sensitive clinical evidence is needed, one that takes heterogeneity as a starting point in research. We call for a mix of methodological approaches aimed at identifying diversity issues that matter and analysing the impact of these diversities on clinical outcomes. Institutional changes are necessary to support this methodological reform.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Stronks et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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