scholarly journals Recruitment and retention of racial/ethnic minorities for web-based intervention trials (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
DaSol Amy Hwang ◽  
Alex Lee ◽  
Jae Min Song ◽  
Hae-Ra Han

BACKGROUND Racial/ethnic minority groups are underrepresented in health research, contributing to persistent health disparities in the nation. Identifying effective recruitment and retention strategies among minority groups and their subpopulations is an important research agenda. With the ubiquitous use of the Internet now, web-based intervention approaches are increasingly popular. It is not completely clear which recruitment and retention strategies have been successful in web-based intervention trials targeting racial/ethnic minorities. OBJECTIVE 1) To describe lessons learned in recruiting and retaining one of the understudied ethnic minority women—Korean American—enrolled in a web-based intervention trial and 2) to compare our findings to the strategies reported in relevant published web-based intervention trials. METHODS Multiple sources of data were used to address the objectives of this study including study team’s meeting minutes, participant tracking and contact log, survey reports, and post-intervention interviews. Additionally, an electronic search involving two databases (PubMed and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature) was done to identify published studies using web-based interventions. Qualitative analysis was then performed to identify common themes addressing recruitment and retention strategies across the trials using web-based intervention modalities. RESULTS A total of nine categories of recruitment and retention strategies emerged: authentic care; accommodation of time, place, and transportation; financial incentives; diversity among study team; multiple, yet standardized modes of communication; mobilizing existing community relationships with efforts to build trust; prioritizing features of web-based intervention; combined use of online and direct recruitment; and self-directed online intervention with human support. While all of the studies included in the analysis combined multiple strategies, prioritizing features of web-based intervention or use of human support were particularly relevant to promoting recruitment and retention of racial/ethnic minorities for web-based intervention trials. CONCLUSIONS Growing prevalence of Internet usage among racial/ethnic minority populations represents an excellent opportunity to design and deliver intervention programs via the Internet. Future research should explore and compare successful recruitment and retention methods between race or ethnic groups for web-based intervention. CLINICALTRIAL e-CHEC-uP: Scaling up an Efficacious Cancer Screening Intervention for Women With Limited English (NCT03726619); https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03726619

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 458-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Wong ◽  
Takashi Amano ◽  
Shih-Yin Lin ◽  
Yuanjin Zhou ◽  
Nancy Morrow-Howell

Background:Racial/ethnic minorities have among the highest risks for Alzheimer disease and dementia, but remain underrepresented in clinical research studies.Objective:To synthesize the current evidence on strategies to recruit and retain racial/ethnic minorities in Alzheimer disease and dementia clinical research.Methods:We conducted a systematic review by searching CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus. We included studies that met four criteria: (1) included a racial/ethnic minority group (African American, Latino, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander); (2) implemented a recruitment or retention strategy for Alzheimer disease or dementia clinical research; (3) conducted within the U.S.; and (4) published in a peer-reviewed journal.Results:Of the 19 included studies, 14 (73.7%) implemented recruitment strategies and 5 (26.3%) implemented both recruitment and retention strategies. Fifteen studies (78.9%) focused on African Americans, two (10.6%) on both African Americans and Latinos, and two (10.5%) on Asians. All the articles were rated weak in the study quality. Four major themes were identified for the recruitment strategies: community outreach (94.7%), advertisement (57.9%), collaboration with health care providers (42.1%), and referral (21.1%). Three major themes were identified for the retention strategies: follow-up communication (15.8%), maintain community relationship (15.8%), and convenience (10.5%).Conclusion:Our findings highlight several promising recruitment and retention strategies that investigators should prioritize when allocating limited resources, however, additional well-designed studies are needed. By recruiting and retaining more racial/ethnic minorities in Alzheimer disease and dementia research, investigators may better understand the heterogeneity of disease progression among marginalized groups. PROSPERO registration #CRD42018081979.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Webb Hooper ◽  
Kelly M. Carpenter ◽  
Erica E. Salmon

Introduction: Internet-based tobacco ces­sation programs have increased in use and popularity in recent years. To examine evi­dence for racial/ethnic digital inequality in web-only tobacco cessation services offered by US tobacco quitlines, we conducted an analysis of quitline enrollees in five states. We hypothesized that racial/ethnic minori­ties would demonstrate lower enrollment and utilization of a web-only tobacco cessa­tion program.Methods: The sample includes enrollees into five state quitlines whose service op­tions included a web-only program in 2015 (N=32,989). Outcomes included web-entry into the quitline, web-only enrollment, establishment of a web account, and the number of times users logged into the pro­gram. Regression models tested associations with race/ethnicity.Results: Compared with Whites, African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians/ Alaska Natives, and “others” were less likely to enter the quitline via the web (Ps<.01) and enroll in a web-only (vs counsel­ing) program (Ps<.01). Among web-only program enrollees, all racial/ethnic minority groups were significantly less likely than Whites to establish an online account (Ps<.03), and African Americans were less likely than Whites to log in to the web-only service (P<.01).Conclusions: This study suggests that digital inequalities exist in web-based tobacco ces­sation services. Findings have implications for the development and implementation of digital tobacco interventions for racial/ethnic minority communities. The proliferation of digital tobacco interventions could increase disparities, as members of racial/ethnic minority groups may not engage in these interventions.Implications: The proliferation of digital interventions has the potential to increase tobacco-related disparities, as members of racial/ethnic minority groups may not enroll in, or engage in, such interventions. As the field moves to digitize tobacco interven­tions, we must remain cognizant of persis­tent digital inequalities and the potential for widening racial/ethnic tobacco cessation disparities. Ethn Dis. 2019;29(3):495-504; doi:10.18865/ed.29.3.495


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad H. Zafarmand ◽  
Parvin Tajik ◽  
René Spijker ◽  
Charles Agyemang

Background: The body of evidence on gene-environment interaction (GEI) related to type 2 diabetes (T2D) has grown in the recent years. However, most studies on GEI have sought to explain variation within individuals of European ancestry and results among ethnic minority groups are inconclusive. Objective: To investigate any interaction between a gene and an environmental factor in relation to T2D among ethnic minority groups living in Europe and North America. Methods: We systematically searched Medline and EMBASE databases for the published literature in English up to 25th March 2019. The screening, data extraction and quality assessment were performed by reviewers independently. Results: 1068 studies identified through our search, of which nine cohorts of six studies evaluating several different GEIs were included. The mean follow-up time in the included studies ranged from 5 to 25.7 years. Most studies were relatively small scale and few provided replication data. All studies included in the review included ethnic minorities from North America (Native-Americans, African- Americans, and Aboriginal Canadian), none of the studies in Europe assessed GEI in relation to T2D incident in ethnic minorities. The only significant GEI among ethnic minorities was HNF1A rs137853240 and smoking on T2D incident among Native-Canadians (Pinteraction = 0.006). Conclusion: There is a need for more studies on GEI among ethnicities, broadening the spectrum of ethnic minority groups being investigated, performing more discovery using genome-wide approaches, larger sample sizes for these studies by collaborating efforts such as the InterConnect approach, and developing a more standardized method of reporting GEI studies are discussed.


Author(s):  
Ruban Dhaliwal ◽  
Rocio I Pereira ◽  
Alicia M Diaz-Thomas ◽  
Camille E Powe ◽  
Licy L Yanes Cardozo ◽  
...  

Abstract The Endocrine Society recognizes racism as a root cause of the health disparities that affect racial/ethnic minority communities in the United States and throughout the world. In this policy perspective, we review the sources and impact of racism on endocrine health disparities and propose interventions aimed at promoting an equitable, diverse, and just healthcare system. Racism in the healthcare system perpetuates health disparities through unequal access and quality of health services, inadequate representation of health professionals from racial/ethnic minority groups, and the propagation of the erroneous belief that socially constructed racial/ethnic groups constitute genetically and biologically distinct populations. Unequal care, particularly for common endocrine diseases such as diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and thyroid disease, results in high morbidity and mortality for individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups, leading to a high socioeconomic burden on minority communities and all members of our society. As health professionals, researchers, educators, and leaders, we have a responsibility to take action to eradicate racism from the healthcare system. Achieving this goal would result in high-quality health care services that are accessible to all, diverse workforces that are representative of the communities we serve, inclusive and equitable workplaces and educational settings that foster collaborative teamwork, and research systems that ensure that scientific advancements benefit all members of our society. The Endocrine Society will continue to prioritize and invest resources in a multifaceted approach to eradicate racism, focused on educating and engaging current and future health professionals, teachers, researchers, policy makers, and leaders.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 648-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert E. Smid ◽  
Annelieke N. Drogendijk ◽  
Jeroen Knipscheer ◽  
Paul A. Boelen ◽  
Rolf J. Kleber

Exposure to mass trauma may bring about increased sensitivity to new or ongoing stressors. It is unclear whether sensitivity to stress associated with ethnic minority/immigrant status may be affected by severe exposure to mass trauma. We examined whether the loss of loved ones or home due to a disaster is associated with more persistent disaster-related distress in ethnic minorities compared with Dutch natives in the Netherlands. In residents affected by a fireworks disaster ( N = 1029), we assessed disaster-related distress after 3 weeks, 18 months, and 4 years. The effects of loss of loved ones or home and ethnic minority/immigrant status on distress were analyzed using latent growth modeling. After controlling for age, gender, education, employment, and post-disaster stressful life events, the loss of loved ones was associated with more persistent disaster-related distress in ethnic minorities compared with natives at 18 months, and the loss of home was associated with more persistent disaster-related distress in ethnic minorities compared with natives between 18 months and 4 years. Our results suggest that the loss of loved ones may increase sensitivity to stress associated with ethnic minority/immigrant status during the early phase of adaptation to a disaster. Loss of home may lead to further resource loss and thereby increase sensitivity to stress associated with ethnic minority/immigrant status in the long term. Efforts to prevent stress-related psychopathology following mass trauma should specifically target ethnic minority groups, notably refugees and asylum seekers, who often experienced multiple losses of loved ones as well as their homes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca E. Chatham ◽  
Sandra J. Mixer

Introduction: Childhood obesity remains an unrelenting public health problem disproportionately affecting ethnic minorities. Although research has examined ethnicity as a factor of childhood obesity, few studies have examined cultural influences. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the qualitative evidence of cultural influences on childhood obesity in ethnic minority groups. Methodology: Selective sampling of studies since 2008 yielded 251 articles. Twelve articles that addressed cultural influences on childhood obesity were identified for review. The Culture Care Theory Sunrise Enabler factors were used as an a priori framework for theme coding. Results: Nine themes emerged: child feeding, family, gender roles, food, healthy child appearance, physical activity, sedentary activity, food cost, and obesogenic environment. Discussion: Cultural care practices such as traditional foods and family meals are protective factors in childhood obesity and should be encouraged by nurses caring for and working with ethnic minority populations.


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