Beyond the Bench: Evidence-Based Strategies for Equitable Clinical Research Engagement among Black Women

Abstract

Low clinical research engagement among historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, particularly in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) research, heightens the risk of MCH health inequities. As clinical research implications shape public health practice, there is a need for equitable research engagement. However, literature addressing strategies to overcome barriers to MCH clinical research remains limited, with nascent evidence-based strategies. Strategies, including Community-Academic Partnerships and social media, offer promising avenues to enhance clinical research engagement, focusing on historically underrepresented populations and sustainable recruitment. The aims of the dissertation study include: (1) Explore Community-Academic Partnerships as a recruitment method to engage Black women in MCH research, and (2) Assess the recruitment outcomes of social media, as a technology-based recruitment method. This dissertation is nested in an MCH clinical research study entitled Rosie the Chatbot. This dissertation work utilized a multimethod approach. Reflexive thematic data analysis from semi-structured interviews from community partners (N=15) explored key characteristics of Community-Academic Partnerships. The convergent parallel analysis assessed recruitment outcomes of Facebook and targeted messaging patterns for recruitment. Specifically, the recruitment outcomes data analysis included Black women who expressed interest in the study as participants and were engaged in initial recruitment through Facebook into an MCH clinical trial study (N=232 potential participants). The targeted messaging patterns data analysis included community partners involved in this MCH clinical trial study (N=15). Emerging from the reflexive thematic analysis are salient themes focused on how Community-Academic Partnerships serve as a recruitment method that prioritizes community values and interests. These partnerships reflect community knowledge and systems, creating pipelines into research. Results reveal a greater recruitment rate and interest rate among those exposed to targeted advertisements compared to general advertisements. Findings also suggested that a higher resonance with targeted messaging resulted in better recruitment outcomes. Findings contribute to inclusive research practices that are paramount in advancing health equity agendas. Furthermore, evidence contributes to best practices in clinical research engagement that can inform research design and investigators’ approaches to promote cultures of equitable and ethical clinical research.