Session Information
Date: Sunday, October 7, 2018
Session Title: Other
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Hall 3FG
Objective: To evaluate diagnostic disparities in Parkinson’s disease (PD) through recruitment of underrepresented minorities into a PD screening study.
Background: African-Americans are less likely than Whites to be evaluated at a hospital that serves the largest proportion of under-represented minorities in the area (Branson, 2017). We therefore set out to understand the biases behind referral practices for underrepresented minorities.
Methods: We aim to recruit 200 diverse participants in the Internal Medicine department with a prescreening questionnaire. Participants enrolled in the study were scheduled to undergo a one-time visit for a Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scales (motor part 3) examination.
Results: Over a 1 year period, two hundred and sixty three participants were screened in the internal medicine waiting room. Of these, 100 qualified for entrance into the study based on scoring 2 or more on the pre-screening questionnaire. 84 participants gave permission for contact. Seventeen of 84 presented for follow up to complete the research study.
Conclusions: In developing a study designed to capture participants who are under-referred for Parkinson’s disease evaluation, we encountered unanticipated recruitment difficulties. Despite a carefully planned study design that was sought to address known challenges, we continued to have a low rate of participant engagement. Proposed interventions to increase recruitment will include a Parkinson’s disease informational pamphlet, scheduling research study visits during already existing clinic appointments, and modest compensation.
References: Branson, C. O., Ferree, A., Hohler, A. D., & Saint-Hilaire, M. H. (2016). Racial disparities in Parkinson disease: a systematic review of the literature. Advances in Parkinson’s Disease, 5(04), 87. Branson, C. O., Quehl, L., James, R., Weinberg, J., Hohler, A. D., & Saint-Hilaire, M. H. (2017). Racial Demographics in an Urban Movement Disorders Clinic. Advances in Parkinson’s Disease, 6(03), 86.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
C. Branson, S. Bissonette, T. Johnson, J. Weinberg, M. Saint-Hilaire. Recruitment of Minority populations with Parkinson’s disease at an Urban Hospital [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2018; 33 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/recruitment-of-minority-populations-with-parkinsons-disease-at-an-urban-hospital/. Accessed May 16, 2025.« Back to 2018 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/recruitment-of-minority-populations-with-parkinsons-disease-at-an-urban-hospital/