Practices to Enhance the Diversity of Pediatric Participants Consented into Orthopaedic Research

Abstract

This quality improvement initiative describes challenges to recruiting racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse infants into a pediatric orthopaedic multicenter research study. The orthopaedic research principal investigator consulted subject-matter experts in pediatric health equity, who provided analyses of baseline research protocols and consulted on improvements to recruitment and consent practices and processes. We describe the subject-matter expert consultation process and the recommendations for changing the research practices that led to increased study enrollment and participation of racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse pediatric patients. Strategies include equitable remuneration for study participation, flexible study protocols, and visible diversity in patient study recruitment and information materials.