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Fall 2008 | Return to Outlook Main page >> |
From the Ethnic Minority and Multicultural Health SIGThe following article from the Ethnic Minority and Multicultural Health SIG provides a brief overview about the opportunities and challenges in conducting research with ethnic and racial minority participants. Michelle Martin, Ph.D. The Willingness of Ethnic and Racial Minorities to Participate in Behavioral Medicine Research Jeffrey L. Kibler, Ph.D. Mindy Ma, Ph.D., Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University Despite the importance of including participants from ethnic and racial minority groups in research, and initiatives of funding agencies to mandate adequate inclusion of minorities, there continues to be under-representation of minority groups in behavioral medicine research. Difficulties recruiting individuals of ethnic and racial minority status in biobehavioral research can result in samples that are too small for conventional analyses, limit conclusions drawn from studies, and diminish the ability to improve health services for minority populations. Several variables have been identified as facilitators of research participation for ethnic/racial minorities. Studies in genetics (1), HIV prevention (e.g., 2-3), cardiovascular health (4), and general assessments of community views (e.g., 5-6) have generally associated greater willingness to participate with less mistrust, fewer health-related fears, greater perceived benefits (benefits to the community or personal incentives), altruism, greater health risks, knowing someone with the illness under investigation, and lacking knowledge of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. These findings are consistent with first-hand experiences of investigators in the field, which suggest that efforts of the research team to immerse themselves in the community, actively engage community members, leaders and gatekeepers, and provide education about study details, are effective for gaining trust and enhancing recruitment (e.g., 7-8). In addition, investigators may provide information that addresses health-related fears of study candidates and effectively communicate the benefits of research participation for potential volunteers and the community. Messages that focus on the potential of research findings to improve quality of life for specific segments of the community may stimulate altruistic intentions for the targeted population. There is a need for further systematic research of the factors that predict study participation, and the implementation of empirically-based strategies for enhancing recruitment. To date, studies of willingness to participate have primarily focused on African American samples. Given the history of research-related ethical violations involving African Americans, the perspectives of African Americans are central to understanding barriers and facilitators in research participation. However, expanding willingness research to other ethnic and racial minority groups will enhance the understanding of how sociocultural differences between groups may contribute to decisions regarding participation. Americans are central to understanding barriers and facilitators in research participation. However, expanding willingness research to other ethnic and racial minority groups will enhance the understanding of how sociocultural differences between groups may contribute to decisions regarding participation. References
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