ONS Connect - June 2008 - (Page 20)

NOTICENURSINGNOW Be Aware of Microaggression in Diversity Communication [By Karen Hochberg, MS, ONS Director of Marketing and Public Relations] M icroaggression, first coined in 1978 by psychologist Chester Pierce, refers to subtle, stunning, often automatic, and nonverbal exchanges, which are put-downs. In a recent article, Ron McGee (2008) relates the story of a white couple seated at an upscale restaurant in Anchorage, AK. The couple’s waitress is courteous, patient, and welcoming. A few minutes later, two Alaskan Native men are seated at the restaurant. The same waitress is rude, impatient, and scornful. What makes the encounter so unique is that the white woman who witnessed it was so outraged by the waitress’ behavior that she decided to write a letter to the editor of the local paper. She vowed to never patronize the restaurant again because of the way the men were mistreated. Understanding diversity often means we must reach beyond stereotypical thinking. We must acknowledge that our own cultural viewpoints and feelings may be involved in our communication at all times. Ask your patients and colleagues how they feel about communicating with you, not just your message, but how it is delivered. A unique gift of nursing is the vast communication experience that is gained; nurses spend a great deal of time understanding the needs of and communicating with people of all cultures. In these encounters, be aware of your nonverbal communication and the way you may be perceived. ✱ McGee, R. (2008). Unintended consequences: The impact of microaggression on public relations. PR Tactics, 15(3), 11. Project Aims to Eliminate Disparities in Clinical Trials [By Bertie Ford, RN, MS, AOCN ®, ONS Director-at-Large] I t is well documented in the literature that certain populations are underrepresented in clinical trials: older adults, racial and ethnic groups, women (in colorectal and lung cancer trials), adolescents, those with lower socioeconomic status, and those who live in rural areas. Without adequate representation, we cannot be sure that an approved treatment will benefit all populations. Baylor College of Medicine was provided a $5.5 million grant from Genentech, Inc., to develop a project to address the issue of disparity in clinical trials. The college designed the Eliminating Disparities in Clinical Trials (EDICT) Project to develop practical policy solutions to disparities in clinical trials. The basis for EDICT was to identify tools designed for recruitment, retention, and ONS CONNECT return as well as provide resources. The initial meeting occurred in September 2006, which I attended on behalf of ONS. Nine opportunity teams were created to address policy solutions: (a) regulation as it relates to disparities in clinical trials, (b) collaborating with the pharmaceutical industry, (c) promoting community involvement in clinical trials, (d) role of publications for setting inclusion standards, (e) professional education of all healthcare professionals and institutional review boards, (f) reallocating research funding to avoid duplication and address disparities, (g) enhancing public education about clinical trials in communities, (h) providing for navigation and support of individuals in clinical trials, and (i) ensuring insurance coverage for costs associated with clinical trials. I served on the participant navigation team. Teams presented their backgrounds, purposes, and policy recommendations at the 11th Biennial Symposium on Minorities, the Medically Underserved, and Cancer in Washington, DC, in April. Other EDICT initiatives include the CLAS-ACT (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services and Clinical Trials) to help researchers determine how well they incorporate CLAS standards in designing new trials and recruiting minorities and the EDICT BackPack, which makes available projects, programs, and best practices to address the recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in clinical trials. For more information, visit www.bcm .edu/edict/home.html. ✱ 20 June 2008 http://www.bcm.edu/edict/home.html http://www.bcm.edu/edict/home.html

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ONS Connect - June 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In They Have a Dream A Year in the Life—Month Six Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Manage Skin Toxicities Associated With EGFR Inhibitors Blood Test for Ovarian Cancer May Be 99 Percent Accurate Calendar of Events Working For You Staying On Top

ONS Connect - June 2008

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