Community Engagement and Long-Term Commitment: Fostering Trust and Collaboration in Clinical Trials for Ophthalmology

EP: 1.Addressing Barriers to Health Equity: The Role of Timely Diagnosis and Health Literacy in Managing Diabetic Eye Disease

EP: 2.Challenges in Diabetes Therapy Adherence: Impact on Early Intervention and Long-Term Visual Outcomes

EP: 3.Improving Patient Adherence in Diabetic Macular Edema Eye Care

EP: 4.Impact of Step Therapy and Prior Authorization Requirements in Ophthalmology Practice

EP: 5.Physician Advocacy for Patient Access: Navigating Medication Authorization Challenges

EP: 6.Diversity and Inclusion in Ophthalmology Clinical Trials: Overcoming Challenges and Building Trust

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EP: 7.Community Engagement and Long-Term Commitment: Fostering Trust and Collaboration in Clinical Trials for Ophthalmology

EP: 8.Addressing Differences in Social Determinants of Health Among Patients With Diabetes: The Role of Community Engagement

EP: 9.Promoting Equitable Patient Care: A Call for Self-Reflection and Awareness Among Providers

EP: 10.DME Disparities: Socioeconomic Impact and Health Equity

EP: 11.Provider Roles and Collaborative Efforts for DME Disparities

EP: 12.Closing Gaps in DME Care: Harnessing the Power of Comprehensive Data Strategies

EP: 13.Ensuring Equitable Patient Care in DME: Unconscious Bias Training and SDOH Screening

EP: 14.Collaborations and Inclusivity for Equitable DME Care

EP: 15.Building An Equitable Future: Strategies for DME Advocacy

Joseph M. Coney, MD, FACS: Engaging in the community to recruit for clinical trials is critical. There are several things that you can do. I would say the most important thing is that you want to be visible in clinical trials. Whether it’s at the YMCA, my wife sits on the board; whether it’s church…[or] church fairs; I am 1 of the people on the health ministry so oftentimes, when patients have a [eye] problem they come to see me; whether it’s at different shelters, we do a lot of [activities] during the holiday time, so we have visibility there. When it comes to coming to a physician, they already have trust [built].

Engaging in patient advocacy groups and other organizations that impact the community [is] critical for us to have an establishment. Now, when it comes to clinical trials, I think it’s also important that once you are able to have a trial in the community, that you also be there once that trial is gone. You want to show that you have support throughout that trial. It’s also helpful to give reviews and updates about the trial, give them updates on what happened, particularly if you are using a center where you recruited several patients for it. Let them know what you found about that trial. Let them know that the medication that their patients had come from and enrolled in [is now] approved. And because of their volunteer work, this medication is now helping millions to save their eyesight. I really think it’s important to go back and not just brand yourself there but brand yourself there and still be visible to the community even when the trial is not there. I think that’s 1 way that we can work with industry. Industry may have the ability to help us out, maybe give us the resources that we need to have a longer-lasting impact in that community.

This transcript is AI generated and reviewed by an AJMC^® editor.