A comprehensive approach to community recruitment for clinical and translational research

Abstract

Introduction: Recruitment and engagement for clinical and translational research is challenging, especially among medically underserved and ethnic or racial minority populations. Methods: We present a comprehensive model developed through the Clinical and Translational Science Center at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center that addresses three critical aspects of participant recruitment. Results: The components of the model are: 1) Recruitment from within UNM to UNM-centered studies, 2) recruitment from within UNM to community-based studies, and 3) recruitment from outside UNM to UNM-centered studies. Conclusions: This model has increased research participant recruitment, especially among medically underserved populations, and offers generalizable translational solutions to common clinical and translational research challenges, especially in settings with similar demographic and geographic characteristics.

Use of a Community Engagement and Research Core model to enhance primary care provider recruitment: A case example

“…CERC serves as a conduit for bidirectional communication between communities and researchers and provides critical support for researchers to engage with rural and underserved communities throughout the state. 7 This approach ensures substantive community-stakeholder participation throughout the research process, thus enhancing successful enrollment and retention of participants. Specifically, this team provides free consultation for community engaged studies, but what makes it unique from its counterparts across the country is its fee-for-service 8…”

“…Additionally, another team member's sole purpose is to build and enhance long-term, bidirectional https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2022.505 Published online by Cambridge University Press communications between researchers and community stakeholders by developing partnerships with local primary care clinics, community health councils, community health workers, and other health-related stakeholders. 7 These relationships and established trust increases CERC acceptance by communities when recruiting for research projects.…”

Guidelines for Evaluating the Feasibility of Recruitment in Pilot Studies of Diverse Populations: An Overlooked but Important Component

“…These fall within several categories, including characteristics of the study, the individuals being recruited, referring physicians, and study personnel, as well as the methods of recruitment. [13][14][15] Based on known barriers and facilitators, a variety of tailored strategies have been developed and tested that maximize participation of diverse population groups. 16 For example, strategies for recruiting older minority adults are summarized in a special supplement to The Gerontologist.…”

Training needs of investigators and research team members to improve inclusivity in clinical and translational research participation

“…10,11 These best practices in URM engagement include making use of: community partners, community advisory boards, tailored recruitment materials, and the establishment of trust through long term engagement. 10,11 Yet, lack of diversity in biomedical research remains. [1][2][3] In order to assess investigator training needs to support URM recruitment, we conducted a survey of researchers and team members affiliated with the UW-ICTR.…”

“…Participant distrust born of historical research abuse and continued discrimination in clinical encounters has been postulated as a primary cause [8,9]. This work has, in turn, led to the development of a number of evidence-based, frequently community-engaged, approaches to promote the inclusion of URM in clinical research much of which has emerged from the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Consortium members [10,11]. These best practices in URM engagement include making use of community partners, community advisory boards, tailored recruitment materials, and the establishment of trust through long-term engagement.…”