Dijon. A seminar on clinical trials in seniors: what if you gave it a try?

Seniors, who are often affected by chronic diseases, remain underrepresented in clinical trials. This paradox is becoming problematic even as the population ages and chronic diseases explode. The causes include overly strict inclusion criteria, a lack of information, and persistent mistrust.

Aware of these obstacles, the Clinical Investigation Center (CIC) of the Dijon University Hospital organized a working group this year that brought together seniors, healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, pharmacists) and user associations, not to mention media outlets such as Le Bien Public and France 3. "The goal was to identify the obstacles while finding solutions, vectors and messages to convey to remove the obstacles," explains ^Dr. Inès Ben Ghezala of the CIC. "Through three meetings co-constructed with all the participants, we identified the main preconceived ideas and fears among older people regarding clinical trials."

The obstacles raised during the meetings of this Access working group: fear of being guinea pigs, of enriching “Big Pharma”, fear of the cumbersome protocols, of degrading one’s health, relatives or doctors not convinced by the approach. “This allowed us to understand that we had to communicate with seniors, but also with their loved ones by putting general practitioners in the loop so that everyone has the right information. A clinical trial is a very secure thing , which comes after numerous stages of scientific and medical validation. We monitor, we supervise, the medical support is tight. There are a lot of safeguards, the risks are limited and controlled. Our senior volunteers told us they were very satisfied to have helped medicine by carrying out what they consider to be a civic act .”

To discuss this topic and promote greater inclusion of seniors in research, the Dijon-Bourgogne University Hospital is organizing a unique seminar, following the Access working group: “Health Research and Seniors,” on Thursday, June 19, at 7 p.m., in the main amphitheater of the paramedical campus. This event will bring together approximately 150 participants: seniors and their companions, health professionals, communicators, citizens, the general public, etc. The program includes interactive conferences, presentations of work, debates, and exchanges of experiences.

Through this seminar, the Dijon University Hospital showcases its expertise in clinical research by bringing together speakers who will share their recommendations for better including older patients in trial protocols. They will discuss the physiological specificities of seniors, as well as the barriers and opportunities for their participation.

Clinical research must reflect the diversity of the population, particularly that of those most exposed to chronic pathologies.

Practical Thursday, June 19, at 7 p.m., at the paramedical campus, 12, boulevard Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, CHU Dijon-Bourgogne.