An Overview of EMPaCT and Fundamental Issues Affecting Minority Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials: Enhancing Minority Participation in Clinical Trials (EMPaCT): Laying the Groundwork for Improving Minority Clinical Trial Accrual

摘要

In the United States, health disparities are well documented in minority populations such as African Americans, Native Americans, Asian .Americans, and Latinos. Compared with whites, these minority groups experience higher incidence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic diseases; higher mortality from these diseases; and poorer health outcomes. There is a significant relation between socioeconomic status and disease, with those most economically disadvantaged being most health disadvantaged as well.3 Several studies have postulated that poverty is the major factor that contributes to the widening racial health-disparity divide because it is associated with a lack of resources, information, and knowledge; substandard living conditions; risk-promoting lifestyles; diminished access to health care; and a mistrust of the health care system.