In partnership with Labcorp, we sought to understand the persistent barriers and high chronic disease risk in Philadelphia’s Black community. Here’s what we found.
Over six months, we mobilized 1,039 of Philadelphia’s community members to complete a co-branded health survey while educating them on clinical research and conditions like diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure.
have some form of health insurance, showing a willingness to engage with the healthcare system.
were women, who are often the healthcare decision-makers in their households.
are on Medicaid, and nearly 60% earn less than $50,000/year, reinforcing the need for accessible, inclusive outreach.
We found that community members are already making positive lifestyle choices, despite misconceptions in the Black community. However, there’s room for even more impact.
Engage in some level of weekly physical activity
Eat unhealthy food only occasionally (1-2x per week or less)
Report never using tobacco
Community interest in clinical research is not the problem. It’s structural access and lingering mistrust that impact participation:
cite transportation issues as the main barrier to clinical research participation
cite lost wages as key obstacles to participation
say they don’t trust clinical studies and are discouraged after previously being disqualified
When it comes to chronic conditions, it’s all too common in the city of brotherly love:
report a family history of high blood pressure
have a family history of diabetes—primarily Type 2
have personally been diagnosed with a heart-related condition
of the other serious health conditions linked to diabetes and high blood pressure.
After analyzing the results of the survey, it’s clear that there are gaps in care that need to be addressed. We can start by:
Develop and implement accessible outreach programs, workshops, and direct communication channels to demystify the research process.
Offer proactive screening initiatives, emphasizing ongoing disease management testing, and providing educational materials and information.
Due to lost wages and transportation issues, affordability is essential. If you’re a healthcare organization championing health equity, we want to hear from you.
