Abstract
Considering the known disparities in racial representation in psoriasis clinical trials, this study sought to characterize travel distance and time to reach a psoriasis clinical trial site as a potential barrier to trial participation for multiple demographic and geographic variables. We determined travel distance and time from every census tract population center in the United States to the nearest psoriasis clinical trial site using ArcGIS and linked travel estimates to demographic characteristics in each census tract based on 2020 American Community Survey. The average distance and time traveled to reach a psoriasis clinical trial site nationally were 45.6 miles and 51.8 min, respectively. Urban residence and Northeast location had significantly lower travel distance and time relative to their geographic counterparts. Travel burden was significantly greater among Native American and Black races, individuals without college education and Veterans Affairs beneficiaries relative to their counterparts. These findings reveal disparate access regarding rurality, race, education and insurance type, which may encourage investigators to increase travel funding for underrepresented groups and diversity recruitment efforts to promote access to psoriasis clinical trials.
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JM and EJB performed data collection. JM performed statistical analysis and prepared Fig. 1. All authors wrote and reviewed the main manuscript text.
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Hao Feng has consulted for Cytrellis Biosystems, Inc. and Soliton, Inc. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.
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This study did not qualify as human subjects research; therefore, institutional review board approval was not required at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
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Masison, J., Beltrami, E.J. & Feng, H. Differential patient travel distance and time to psoriasis clinical trial sites. Arch Dermatol Res 315, 2359–2363 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02633-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00403-023-02633-2