Morgan Susan E, Mouton Ashton, Occa Aurora, Potter Jonell
a School of Communication , University of Miami , Coral Gables , Florida , USA.
b Brian Lamb School of Communication , Purdue University , West Lafayette , Indiana , USA.
J Health Commun. 2016 Jul;21(7):765-72. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2016.1157654. Epub 2016 Jun 3.
The lack of accrual to research studies and clinical trials is a persistent problem with serious consequences: Advances in medical science depend on the participation of large numbers of people, including members of minority and underserved populations. The current study examines a critical determinant of accrual: the approach of patients by professional recruiters who request participation in research studies and clinical trials. Findings indicate that recruiters use a number of verbal strategies in the communication process, including translating study information (such as simplifying, using examples, and substituting specific difficult or problematic words), using linguistic reframing or metaphors, balancing discussions of research participation risks with benefits, and encouraging potential participants to ask questions. The identification of these verbal strategies can form the basis of new communication protocols that will help medical and nonmedical professionals communicate more clearly and effectively with patients and other potential participants about research studies and clinical trials, which should lead to increased accrual in the future.
研究和临床试验受试者招募不足是一个长期存在的问题，会产生严重后果：医学科学的进步依赖于大量人群的参与，包括少数族裔和医疗服务不足人群。当前的研究考察了招募的一个关键决定因素：专业招募人员邀请患者参与研究和临床试验的方式。研究结果表明，招募人员在沟通中使用了多种语言策略，包括翻译研究信息（如简化、举例以及替换特定的难词或有问题的词汇）、使用语言重构或隐喻、平衡研究参与风险与益处的讨论，以及鼓励潜在参与者提问。识别这些语言策略可为新的沟通协议奠定基础，这将有助于医学和非医学专业人员就研究和临床试验与患者及其他潜在参与者进行更清晰、有效的沟通，有望在未来增加受试者招募。
