Leadership knowledge and beliefs regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion at SWOG Cancer Research Network.
Year: 2023
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: e13599 Background: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is recognized as fundamental in the development of generalizable clinical trials. Both ASCO and the FDA have released statements regarding the importance of representativeness in clinical trials. A paucity of research exists regarding the knowledge and beliefs of the people who lead the development of trials within the NCTN. Methods: An electronic survey on knowledge and beliefs regarding DEI was administered to SWOG leadership from 12.14.2021 to 01.13.2022. Questions were divided into 4 categories including: general beliefs regarding DEI, SWOG’s current status regarding DEI efforts, perception of SWOG’s values and readiness in executing DEI. Twenty questions were asked and answers were recorded using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: A total of 53% (N=47/88) respondents completed the survey (Table 1). The majority of SWOG leadership strongly agree that diversity is an asset (68%) and that they have a role to champion DEI (72%). Less than a quarter of SWOG leadership strongly agree that there are sufficient opportunities for committee members to provide DEI input across the clinical trial life cycle (21%). When evaluating SWOGs current role in DEI efforts, 64% of respondents had a neutral or negative response for each of the 4 questions. When evaluating respondents’ perception of SWOG values regarding DEI, 64% of respondents had a positive or very positive response on average for each of the 6 questions. When evaluating SWOG’s readiness to promote DEI, 57% of respondents had a positive or very positive response for each question. Some of the barriers experienced include technological issues with construction and delivery of the survey to protected email addresses as well as lack of dedicated staff at SWOG to assist. Conclusions: This survey provides insight into SWOG leader’s beliefs and knowledge regarding DEI as well as their perception of SWOG’s current efforts and ability to promote DEI in clinical trials. While respondents tended to value DEI positively personally and through SWOG, their perception of SWOG’s role in promoting DEI was neutral or negative. Perception of SWOGs readiness to promote DEI was positive to a lesser degree. These findings emphasize the importance of capturing baseline beliefs to promote DEI efforts with clinical trial leadership. [Table: see text]
Source: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Authors: Manuel Ricardo Espinoza Gutarra, Colmar Figueroa-Moseley, Lucy Gansauer, Gayathri Nagaraj, Jessica Dreger McDermott, Rick Bangs, Allison Caban-Holt, Patricia A. Robinson
Language: English
Topic: Ethics in Clinical Research
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Funder: Hope Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W4379283516