Newsletter March 2024

Mar 25, 2024 | Newsletters

#CountAfricaIn

in the field of clinical research

Pharmalys team takes the floor!

Pharmalys team members give their feedback on how to improve the Pharmalys Voice concept

Introduced in March 2023, Pharmalys Voice represents a recurrent team gathering designed to facilitate transparent communication. The principle is simple. Empower team members to share their perspectives openly, sharing their views between one another. During these meetings, the team proposes topics related to their professional experiences, ranging from insights gained in specific studies to strategies employed in overcoming on-site challenges. Discussions may also revolve around refining job roles and responsibilities to prevent overlap, providing updates on clinical operations, and more.

In 2023, 3 meetings were organised in March, June, and September, laying the groundwork for the evaluation of the concept through a team poll. A big thank you to those who took the time to respond! The significant level of participation allows us to confidently presume that the feedback received is an accurate reflection of the sentiments of the majority of Pharmalys employees. The poll focused on two key aspects. One, the format and organisation, and two, the content of Pharmalys Voice. The poll concluded with an open-ended question soliciting suggestions for improvements.

So far, Pharmalys Voice has received positive feedback. This is evident in responses such as ‘it is useful’, ‘it is pleasant to be all together’, ‘I appreciate having news/information on Pharmalys’, ‘I love learning about other staff’s experiences’, ‘I feel comfortable to speak freely’. The majority of participants appreciate the frequency (every 3 months) and duration (3 hours) of the sessions. The content has been of satisfactory standards thus far. Valuable suggestions for future discussions have been put forth, including topics such as how to improve people’s well-being and performance, how to enhance collaboration, employees’ challenges, among others.

The primary recommendations for improvements that were suggested centred around the desire for more extensive coverage of employees’ experiences, an extension of the preparation time allocated for presentations, enhanced follow-up procedures for discussed action items, and a greater emphasis on fostering interactivity.

The top management team is committed to addressing these suggestions during the planning of upcoming Pharmalys Voice meetings. We firmly believe that our people constitute the most valuable asset of our company, and our dedication to their continued professional and personal development remains unwavering. Read more: Our Values | Pharmalys ; Our People | Pharmalys

Count Africa in!

As a regionally recognised Contract Research Organisation, we firmly believe that Sub-Saharan Africa deserves inclusion among the global community of study participants contributing to the generation of scientifically robust clinical data for crucial healthcare advancements. Our highly skilled team is dedicated to advancing and fortifying research infrastructure in Africa while simultaneously upholding the highest standards of quality in the design and conduct of clinical trials. Read more: Why Africa? | Pharmalys; Why Pharmalys | Pharmalys

The underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority groups in randomised controlled clinical trials limits the generalisability of healthcare findings

In recent years, growing concern has been raised regarding the lack of diversity in health and clinical research trials. As an increasing number of studies investigate the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority groups in health research, a notable discourse has emerged, highlighting the critical gap in the current landscape of medical research and the potential impact on healthcare outcomes within these populations.

Addressing these striking disparities in clinical research

Numerous studies have outlined the significant underrepresentation of Black, Asian, and Mixed ethnic groups. These communities are either disproportionately excluded or inaccurately categorised using terms such as ‘BAME’, ‘Other’, ‘non-white’ or ‘Unknown’. This occurs irrespective of the pathology or the location of the hospital or healthcare facility.

In a meta epidemiological study conducted in 2023, researchers investigated the proportional representation of Black individuals in recently published high-impact critical care randomised controlled trials (RCTs) conducted at sites in the United States or Canada. The study included 21 eligible RCTs. Of these, 17 enrolled at only US sites, two at only Canadian sites, and two at both US and Canadian sites. Overall, the 21 studies included sites spanning 59 cities in the United States and Canada.

Despite Black patients having a higher incidence and prevalence of heart failure, along with worse clinical outcomes for cardiac conditions, the study revealed a 23% underrepresentation of Black individuals compared to city-based demographics. Read more: https://www.pharmalys.com/the-underrepresentation-of-racial-and-ethnic-minority-groups-in-randomised-controlled-clinical-trials-limits-the-generalisability-of-healthcare-findings/

For more information, visit our website www.pharmalys.com
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