Clinical studies for lasers in dermatology: A retrospective analysis of spatial distribution and accessibility by race and rurality

Summary: Abstract Body: Improving access to dermatological laser clinical studies is essential for driving innovations for an increasingly diverse patient population. However, geographic barriers to access for underserved rural and racial minorities are still prevalent. In this study, the evolving trends in geographic accessibility to dermatological laser clinical studies in the United States in the last two decades were analyzed, particularly on patterns seen among different rural-urban classifications, racial categories, and the post COVID-19 era. Geospatial data on 200 clinical studies extracted from ClinicalTrials.gov was cross-referenced with demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Distances to study sites were computed using the Haversian formula as a measure of geographic accessibility. Trends in accessibility disparities by race and Rural-Urban Commuting Area(RUCA) classification, population coverage, and study count and distribution were analyzed with linear regression analyses and t-tests. Despite an overall increase in the number of active clinical studies from 2005 to 2024, y=0.119x-230.267, with x equaling the current year, the analysis revealed significantly greater average distances to the nearest study for rural participants compared to their urban counterparts (p<0.0001). Additionally, Black and American Indians, faced the greatest geographic constraints across all RUCA categories. Geographic accessibility faced a sharp temporary decline in the wake of COVID-19. Barriers to clinical study access disproportionately impacts rural and minority populations, perpetuating existing inequities in healthcare delivery. Strategic clinical trial placement, travel assistance, and telehealth should be implemented to expand and diversify participation among the underserved community. More comprehensive studies are needed to uncover the underlying causes and remedies for disparities in clinical study access. Dev Patel¹, Dany Alkurdi¹, Kenny Ta², Curtis Tam¹, Ezdean Alkurdi¹, Omar Alani¹, Xavier Bear¹, Nathan Keller², Muhad Abdelwahab², Shiven Sharma¹, Diya Patel¹, Robert Dellavalle² 1. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States. 2. University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States. Clinical Research: Epidemiology and Observational Research