New research from the Reducing Ethical and Social Prejudicial Effects of COVID-19 Testing in Underserved Populations (RESPECT-UP) study, shows how engaging community members as research team members can overcome mistrust in medical research within African American communities. The study, which includes a multidisciplinary team of UAB investigators, focuses on reducing stigma, discrimination, and other social factors affecting COVID-19 testing.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the disparities in health and healthcare access faced by underserved communities. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics in Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiative, awarded eight national grants to better understand social, ethical, and behavioral factors surrounding COVID-19 testing in vulnerable communities. Gabriela Oates, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, received one of those eight grants for this work. The team includes Raegan Durant, MD, MPH; Janet Turan, Ph.D., MPH; Lori Bateman, Ph.D., RD; and Mona Fouad, MD, MPH, all scientists with the Minority Health & Health Equity Research Center (MHERC).
Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs)
Community members were a key component of helping to bridge the gap between research and community. Community members were trained and employed as Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs) to recruit participants and collect data. This approach facilitated successful enrollment and high-quality data collection, demonstrating the potential of community-based research strategies.
Training and Data Collection
CECs underwent comprehensive training, including five hours of instructor-led sessions and virtual Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Human Subjects Training. Over 11 weeks, they recruited 318 participants and administered 303 surveys, along with 53 focus group participants.
Key Findings
• Successful Enrollment: The involvement of CECs led to the successful completion of planned enrollment with minimal missing data.
• Trust Building: CECs quickly established trust with participants due to their connection with community members.
Conclusion
The study underscores the importance of community investment in research. Training and employing community members as research personnel can help overcome mistrust and promote support for public health interventions. This approach not only facilitated successful data collection but also expanded community infrastructure for future studies, potentially leading to long-term health benefits. Understanding and addressing the challenges faced in such community-based research can enhance the effectiveness of public health initiatives and improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations.
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