The 5Ts Framework serves as a valuable organizing model for the best practice recommendations we have gathered for improving inclusion across the lifespan. To see recommendations for each “T” select Target population, Team, Time, Tips to Accommodate, or Tools. Or to narrow the list of recommendations to those most relevant to your study, use the filters to select your “Data collection method,” “Study design,” “Study setting”, current study “Activity,” or “Person.”
Recommendations
Displaying 4 Recommendations
| Avoid exclusion criteria that disproportionately affect older adults. Exclusion criteria that disproportionately affect older adults: co-occurring conditions (comorbidity), functional limitations, hearing and vision impairment, cognitive impairment, inability to give informed consent, recent hospitalization/health event, living in a nursing home or assisted living facility, serious illness, or limited life-expectancy. Discretionary exclusions such as "deemed inappropriate," "unlikely to complete study protocol," or "at risk for adverse events" also exclude older adults. Do not use age as a proxy for frailty or risk for adverse events. References: |
 Target Population
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| Know the demographics (average age, gender and race) and prevalence of age-related limitatons and co-occurring chronic diseases among adults with the condition being studied. Adults ≥65 years old make up about 15% of the US Population (>55 million people) and this number is expected to increase over the next 20 years. Most disease populations and healthcare populations include an even higher percentage of older adults. Start by estimating the percentage of older adults in the target population (who should findings generalize to), then set recruitment goals by age and track inclusion during enrollment. Useful Link: https://www.census.gov/topics/population/older-aging.html Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19093934/ |
Target Population
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| Know the range of preferred languages of your target population, and ensure materials and communication are inclusive of preferred languages. Example: The PREVENTABLE Study brochure is in English and Spanish (linked below). Useful Link: https://preventabletrial.org/English%20and%20Spanish%20Brochure.pdf |
Target Population
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| Understand common motivations for participating in research, as well as concerns about participating in research. Research teams often think of risks versus benefits, but for older adults and caregivers, decisions about research often come down to weighing motivations for participating versus the inconvenience of being in a study. In cases where motivation is low and inconveniences are high, they may be less likely to enroll in research. Many inconveniences are also compounded at older ages (e.g., travel to study visits + difficulty walking). Older adults want study teams to address their personal motivations for participating and make accommodations to reduce inconveniences. Examples: The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) Recruiting Older Adults into Research (ROAR) project has information for older adults on participating in research. Reference: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/recruiting-older-adults-research-roar-toolkit |
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