Virtual Community Engagement for Retention of Black Men in Clinical Research

Abstract

Black American men have worse cardiovascular health compared with their White counterparts, yet are highly underrepresented in clinical trials. In 2020, Black men were recruited to participate in Black Impact, a community-based lifestyle intervention to increase cardiovascular health. Due to the research pause during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a virtual community engagement (VCE) process was co-designed with community stakeholders and evaluated for its effect on retention for the clinical trial. VCE via weekly virtual video conference sessions occurred for 9 weeks as a run-in phase prior to in-person research activities. Data collected during sessions included attendance, anecdotes on acceptability, and topical requests for subsequent weeks. Content analysis was performed on scribe notes from sessions to ascertain themes describing the implementation and participant perceptions of the VCE. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. The VCE provided opportunities to co-create a safe atmosphere in small groups, discuss mental health, foster trust, capitalize on the power of spirituality, and establish a brotherhood. Following the VCE run-in phase, 74 of 100 participants remained engaged for participation in the Black Impact study. The VCE described provides a framework that can be used to retain Black men during study delays or disruptions through fostering engagement and building community among participants and researchers.

Advancements in Targeted Therapies for Vitiligo: Prioritizing Equity in Drug Development

“…It is logical to assume that every clinical trialist in dermatology seeks equitable representation among a diverse set of races, ethnicities, and skin types, but achieving this goal remains elusive. Two recent publications 16,17 outlined the challenges and examined solutions to address enrollment disparities, including several barriers to diversity among clinical trial participants: awareness of the clinical trials among minority populations; easy access to clinical trial sites; reluctance to participate because of prior experiences of discrimination, even if unrelated to clinical trials; and a lack of workforce diversity among the clinical trialist teams. To overcome these barriers, a multifaceted approach is needed that requires action at the level of the patient, provider, community, and institution.…”

More than Just a Number: Perspectives from Black Male Participants on Community-Based Interventions and Clinical Trials to Address Cardiovascular Health Disparities

“…The resulting sense of brotherhood within these teams played a significant role in shaping participants' engagement and satisfaction with the community-based clinical trial. The study's emphasis on social support, both from the study team and fellow participants, not only heightened their interest but also contributed to improved adherence to the study protocol and overall participant retention [62].…”