Clinical trials and American Indians/Alaska Natives with substance use disorders: identifying potential strategies for a new cultural-based intervention

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address a significant public mental health disparity affecting American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs): the shortage of clinical trials research analyzing the benefits of AI/AN traditional-based treatments, e.g. drumming.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of four focus groups were conducted among outpatient and inpatient AI/AN substance abuse patients and providers serving AI/ANs. The purpose of these focus groups was to obtain insights relating to the recent challenges of conducting a clinical trial within the outpatient treatment setting seeking to analyze the benefits of a new substance abuse treatment intervention utilizing drumming for AI/ANs [Drum-assisted Recovery Therapy for Native Americans (DARTNA)] and to obtain recommendations to successfully conduct a similar study within an inpatient treatment setting.

Findings

The most prevalent barriers to conducting a clinical trial within an outpatient setting were transportation and child care issues. Recommendations were obtained with regard to optimizing recruitment and retention for a future study within an inpatient setting.

Originality/value

This research offers the field rare information that helps toward identifying strategies to successfully conduct clinical trials investigating the benefits of culturally-appropriate treatments for AI/ANs with substance use disorders.

Citation

L. Dickerson, D., L. Venner, K. and Duran, B. (2014), "Clinical trials and American Indians/Alaska Natives with substance use disorders: identifying potential strategies for a new cultural-based intervention", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 175-178. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-01-2014-0003