This course aims to teach people how to enhance the recruitment and retention of individuals from minoritized and marginalized communities in clinical trials. We begin by discussing the importance of diversity in clinical research, the lasting impact of past research abuses, and barriers and facilitators to research participation. Next, we explore community engagement principles, effective communication strategies, ways to increase community knowledge and awareness of clinical research, and outreach to community providers. Last, we discuss recruitment planning, person-centered consent, and retention. The course duration is listed as 8 weeks. However, you can work at your own pace and finish the course faster, if so desired. There is no cost to participate in the course; however, there is a fee for obtaining a completion certificate. Financial aid options are available.
CME information:
Vanderbilt University Medical Center designates this enduring material for a maximum of 8.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. For more information, see the first reading assignment in Module 1.
Acknowledgments:
We would like to acknowledge the following members from the Center for Knowledge Management at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for their expertise and insightful contribution in the development and implementation of the course: Sheila Kusnoor, PhD, Marcia Epelbaum, MA, Lori Harding, MLS, Elizabeth Frakes, MSIS, Helen Naylor, MS, Mallory Blasingame, MA, Taneya Koonce, MSLS, MPH, and Nunzia Bettinsoli Giuse, MD, MLS. We would also like to acknowledge Devan Ray, BA, from the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, for her role in project management and contributions to content development. Additionally, we acknowledge ArtMagic Labs, particularly Casey Culver, Victor Tyler, Jake Sucoff, John Martinez, and Robert Eva, for their outstanding work in filming and editing the videos for the course.
The Vanderbilt Recruitment Innovation Center leads the efforts behind the Faster Together project.
This work was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, under the award numbers U24TR001579 and U24TR004432.
This lesson describes the need to include minoritized racial and ethnic groups in clinical trials. We review how low participation of marginalized communities in research affects health care. We discuss the lasting impact of past research abuses on people’s thoughts about research. Finally, we cover barriers to research participation and how to overcome them.
What's included
6 videos6 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 22 minutes
Course Introduction•4 minutes
Module 1 Introduction•1 minute
Importance of Increasing Recruitment of Minoritized Groups in Clinical Trials•4 minutes
Impact of Historical Abuses in Research•5 minutes
Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in Clinical Trials•7 minutes
Conclusion•1 minute
6 readings•Total 28 minutes
CME Information•2 minutes
Pre-course Assessment Survey•3 minutes
Infamous examples of abuses in human research•5 minutes
Protections for research participants•5 minutes
Helpful Resources and Toolkits•3 minutes
Action Planning Tool•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 18 minutes
Abuses in Human Research•10 minutes
Module 1 Review•8 minutes
Module 2: Key Principles of Community Engagement
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lesson begins by describing the need to look at one’s own biases. Next, we review effective ways to engage with the community to make recruitment easier. We discuss the steps needed to make community partnerships. Finally, we show how community partnerships can increase recruitment of minoritized racial and ethnic groups in clinical trials.
What's included
3 videos6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 23 minutes
Key Principles of Community Engagement•8 minutes
Community Outreach and Engagement•6 minutes
Building Community Partnerships•9 minutes
6 readings•Total 43 minutes
The role of bias•8 minutes
Importance of community engagement•5 minutes
Building relationships with community organizations•5 minutes
Memorandum of understanding•5 minutes
Give-Get Grid•10 minutes
Action Planning Tool•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Lesson 2 Review•10 minutes
Module 3: Reaching Out Into the Community: Effective Communication
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lesson reviews communication best practices. We discuss ways to improve written and oral communication. The lesson aims to provide the knowledge and tools to communicate more effectively with the public about clinical trials.
What's included
4 videos6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 23 minutes
Module 3 Introduction•2 minutes
Building Rapport•3 minutes
Tailoring Your Message•6 minutes
Know Your Audience•13 minutes
6 readings•Total 50 minutes
Clear communication guidelines•5 minutes
Readability•10 minutes
Simple ways to explain medical and research terms•10 minutes
Obtaining community feedback on materials•5 minutes
Module 4: Enhancing Community Knowledge and Awareness of Clinical Research
Module 4•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lesson describes why it is important to involve the community in the clinical research process. We first discuss why it is important to raise knowledge and awareness of clinical trials in the community. We next explain how building trust and trustworthiness can promote community confidence and participation in research. Last, we discuss ways to raise community awareness about clinical research opportunities.
What's included
5 videos4 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 10 minutes
Module 4 Introduction•1 minute
The Importance of Raising Knowledge and Awareness of Clinical Research•1 minute
How to Build Trust and Sustain Relationships to Enhance Community Receptivity•4 minutes
Creative Pathways for Relaying Information about Clinical Trials through Culturally and Community Relevant Modalities•3 minutes
Module 4 Conclusion•1 minute
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
Building knowledge and awareness about clinical research in the community•5 minutes
Culturally sensitive methods for offering information about clinical trials•10 minutes
Addressing commonly asked questions about clinical trials•15 minutes
Action Planning Tool•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Module 4 Review•10 minutes
Module 5: Outreach with Community Healthcare Providers
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lesson reviews how partnering with community healthcare providers can help boost participation of marginalized communities in clinical trials. We discuss concerns providers may have about clinical trials. We explain the need to build trust with providers. Last, we present ways to foster provider referral.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 12 minutes
Outreach with Community Healthcare Providers•12 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Reaching out to community providers•10 minutes
Conducting Collaborative Research with Community Providers•10 minutes
Action Planning Tool•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Module 5 Review•10 minutes
Module 6: Developing an Effective Recruitment and Pre-Screening Plan
Module 6•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lesson discusses how effective recruitment planning can help increase participation of marginalized communities in clinical research. We begin by explaining the importance of having a diverse study team, experienced in working with marginalized communities. We next explain the need for identifying the intended community and incorporating their feedback in the recruitment plan. We discuss communication and recruitment methods, recruitment feasibility, and budgeting. Last, we explain the importance of pre-screening to help minimize bias and ensure that anyone who seems eligible is given the chance to participate.
What's included
4 videos5 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 9 minutes
Module 6 Introduction•1 minute
Effective Recruitment Planning•3 minutes
Pre-Screening and Bias Awareness•5 minutes
Module 6 Conclusion•0 minutes
5 readings•Total 55 minutes
Developing an effective recruitment plan•10 minutes
Impact of prescreening on clinical trial participation•15 minutes
Screening and approach•15 minutes
Screen failure tracking log•5 minutes
Action Planning Tool•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Module 6 Review•10 minutes
Module 7: Managing an Effective, Person-Centered Consent Process
Module 7•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lesson describes how to conduct the informed consent process using a person-centered approach. We discuss the role of culture, language, health literacy, and support.
What's included
5 videos7 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 15 minutes
Introduction•2 minutes
Consent Document Considerations•4 minutes
Consent Process Considerations•2 minutes
Important Nuances•4 minutes
Assessing Understanding During the Consent Process•3 minutes
7 readings•Total 65 minutes
Tip sheet: Informed consent best practices•5 minutes
Addressing health literacy needs in the informed consent document•10 minutes
Incorporating language preferences in informed consent•10 minutes
The informed consent process•10 minutes
Working with an interpreter•10 minutes
Using teach-back to assess understanding•10 minutes
Action Planning Tool•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Module 7 Review•10 minutes
Module 8: Person-Centered Retention
Module 8•1 hour to complete
Module details
This lesson describes why retention of participants in clinical trials is important. We review common retention challenges that study participants may face once they agree to be a part of a clinical trial. Finally, we provide approaches to help with retention.
What's included
6 videos5 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 15 minutes
Introduction•2 minutes
Barriers to Participation and Retention•3 minutes
Effective Retention Approaches•5 minutes
Return of Results as Part of Return of Value•3 minutes
Tying It All Together•2 minutes
Summary and Closing•1 minute
5 readings•Total 40 minutes
Addressing barriers through recruitment and retention planning•5 minutes
Strategies to increase retention•10 minutes
Guidance on Payment and Reimbursement to Research Subjects•5 minutes
Sharing research findings with the public•10 minutes
Action Planning Tool•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
Module 8 Review•10 minutes
Instructors
Instructor ratings
Instructor ratings
We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tenn., is a private research university and medical center offering a full-range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees.
OK
Why people choose Coursera for their career
Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
4.8
107 reviews
5 stars
84.11%
4 stars
13.08%
3 stars
2.80%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%
Showing 3 of 107
V
VS
5·
Reviewed on Oct 15, 2022
Wonderful, very well organized course. Very relevant, well presented. A few of the links are expired/invalid but generally, course was rich in useful material.Thank you so much!
R
RJ
4·
Reviewed on Apr 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this course. It was packed with very useful information. I learned a lot from it.
F
FD
5·
Reviewed on May 8, 2022
Excellent course. So well done with videos, readings. Resources I will put into use right away!
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.