Race and HIV clinical trial participation.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine at the role race/ethnicity plays in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical trial enrollment. BACKGROUND: HIV clinical trials are vitally important for improving knowledge about medications and their impact on the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS. African Americans are disproportionately underrepresented in HIV clinical trials. METHODS: A 49-item survey was administered to 145 patients at an urban HIV clinic to explore race and HIV clinical trial participation. RESULTS: Study participants were 56% Caucasian, 19% other, 16% African American, and 13% Hispanic. Fewer African Americans had been asked to participate in a trial compared to other groups (8% vs. 24%) (p < .05). African Americans were less likely to volunteer for a trial compared to Hispanics and Caucasians, but African Americans did not differ significantly in their willingness participate in clinical trials vs. other racial groups. In a regression model age, past trial participation, monetary gain, and comfort with the clinical setting predicted willingness to participate in a trial across racial groups (p < .05). DISCUSSION: There is a strong need to identify strategies to increase African American enrollment in trials. Such strategies need to begin with trial recruiters actively seeking out African Americans for clinical trial enrollment.

HIV-associated pseudotumor cerebri: a case report and literature review.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a cause of vision loss in HIV-positive patients. In many patients with controlled HIV disease, idiopathic intracranial hypertension develops without any other apparent cause. We report the case of an HIV-infected man in whom idiopathic intracranial hypertension developed, and despite therapy with repeated lumbar puncture, acetazolamide, and neurosurgical interventions, he did not regain his vision.

Attitudes and perceptions of AIDS clinical trials group site coordinators on HIV clinical trial recruitment and retention: a descriptive study.

HIV-seropositive blacks, Hispanics, women of all ethnicities, and injection drug users (IDUs) have low rates of clinical trial participation. The opinions of research nurses and study coordinators as potential facilitators and barriers to access to clinical trials may contribute to this disparity. Study coordinators and research nurses from the adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) clinical trials units responded to an anonymous computer-based survey comprising multiple choice questions and clinical scenarios. Descriptive statistics were used to determine frequencies of responses. Recruitment rates of blacks, Hispanics, women and IDUs were mostly rated appropriate compared with the geographic region demographics. Most sites ranked white men as being the most interested in clinical trials. Sites rated their most effective interactions were with white men. Respondents felt they were less likely to enroll individuals who had missed previous clinical appointments or did not speak English. Perceptions that IDUs, Hispanics, blacks, and, to a lesser extent, women had less interest in clinical trials participation than white males may affect recruitment of the targeted populations. Interventions to improve interactions with targeted populations and to remove logistical and language barriers may improve the diversity of clinical trial participants.