Considerations for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Clinical Research

Diversity, equity and inclusion in clinical research starts with awareness of the perceptions of different communities. Repairing and reducing mistrust within underrepresented communities means learning how to recognize the obstacles and increase sensitivity for inclusion. Listening to people within these communities can guide health and research inclusivity initiatives.

Teckro engaged the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), an independent non-profit organization, to organize and facilitate a virtual advisory meeting among LGBTQ+ patients and community members. There is no one-size-fits-all to engaging LGBTQ+ individuals in clinical research or in healthcare overall, but the first step is listening. How one identifies is an integral part of traditional inclusion or exclusion from clinical research trials and limits access for people who do not self-identify in traditional categories.

Our goals were to:

• Better understand general healthcare experiences of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as relationships and interactions with healthcare providers
• Assess awareness of clinical research and potential drivers for participation and retention, as well as highlights and lowlights of past clinical trial experiences
• Identify ways to raise awareness among and better engage the LGBTQ+ community in clinical research

We are broadly sharing results from the four hours of discussion to help inform considerations and best practices when engaging with the LGBTQ+ community, ultimately optimizing clinical trial experiences in the future.