Abstract:
OBJECTIVES : Ethnic minorities (EM) are still underrepresented in research recruitment. Despite wide literature
outlining the barriers, enablers and recommendations for driving inclusion and diversity in research, there is still
little evidence for successful diversity in research participation, which has a direct impact on the quality of care
provided to ethnically diverse individuals. A new, comprehensive approach to recruitment strategies is therefore
necessary.
STUDY DESIGN : service improvement initiative.
METHODS : In the light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the key public health need to address the disparity in care
provided to non-white populations, we used a novel, comprehensive approach (The King’s Model) comprising of
local and community actions to promote inclusive research recruitment. We then compared rates of diverse
recruitment in studies where the novel approach, was applied to studies which had been closed to recruitment at
the time of analysis and where ethnicity data was available.
RESULTS : Our results demonstrate that following the introduction of the King’s Model for diverse recruitment,
commercial interventional study diverse recruitment increased from 6.4% to 16.1%, and for non-commercial
studies, from 30.2% to 41.0% and 59.2% in the selected studies.
CONCLUSIONS : King’s Model is potentially a useful tool in enhancing non-Caucasian recruitment to clinical research.
Enriched by additional recommendations based on our experiences during the Covid-19 research recruitment
drive, we propose the King’s Model is used to support ethnically diverse research recruitment. Further evidence is
needed to replicate our findings, although this preliminary evidence provides granular details necessary to
address the key unmet need of validating clinical research outcomes in non-white populations.
