Inclusion of Minorities, Women, and Older Adults in Studies of Herbal Medicine

Background: Herbal medicines are used by about 20% of the U.S. population. Older adults, minorities, and women use herbs at rates that are similar to or greater than the general population. The literature contains virtually no information about the applicability of the available evidence to diverse populations Methods: This study examines 1) representation of diverse populations in studies of medicinal herbs, and 2) associations between study funding source, other study characteristics and inclusion and reporting of under-researched, clinically relevant subgroups in published studies of medicinal herbs. I will extract information on the populations included in published clinical research on 10 commonly-used medicinal herbs. The prospectively defined primary end points are 1) the percentage of studies that report race/ethnicity, gender, and age of participants, and the 2) the number and proportion of subjects who are members of each subgroup. Expected outcomes: To my knowledge, this will be the first study to document the inclusion of minorities, women, and older adults in publicly and industry-funded studies of herbal medicine, or to examine the applicability of these studies to general and patient populations. Intensive examination of the clinical medical literature has previously led to development and enforcement of research reporting guidelines such as the CONSORT statements that have improved research reporting across the clinical spectrum. By advancing the state of knowledge about the evidence base for studies of herbal medicine, this research will provide guidance for standards of research on herbal medicine and other Alternative and Complementary Health Practices.