Emergency Preparedness and Risk Communication Among African American Churches: Leveraging a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership COVID-19 Initiative

BACKGROUND Community-based participatory research is an effective tool for improving health outcomes in minority communities. Few community-based participatory research studies have evaluated methods of optimizing smartphone apps for health technology-enabled interventions in African Americans. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to utilize focus groups (FGs) for gathering qualitative data to inform the development of an app that promotes physical activity (PA) among African American women in Washington, DC. METHODS We recruited a convenience sample of African American women (N=16, age range 51-74 years) from regions of Washington, DC metropolitan area with the highest burden of cardiovascular disease. Participants used an app created by the research team, which provided motivational messages through app push notifications and educational content to promote PA. Subsequently, participants engaged in semistructured FG interviews led by moderators who asked open-ended questions about participants’ experiences of using the app. FGs were audiorecorded and transcribed verbatim, with subsequent behavioral theory-driven thematic analysis. Key themes based on the Health Belief Model and emerging themes were identified from the transcripts. Three independent reviewers iteratively coded the transcripts until consensus was reached. Then, the final codebook was approved by a qualitative research expert. RESULTS In this study, 10 main themes emerged. Participants emphasized the need to improve the app by optimizing automation, increasing relatability (eg, photos that reflect target demographic), increasing educational material (eg, health information), and connecting with community resources (eg, cooking classes and exercise groups). CONCLUSIONS Involving target users in the development of a culturally sensitive PA app is an essential step for creating an app that has a higher likelihood of acceptance and use in a technology-enabled intervention. This may decrease health disparities in cardiovascular diseases by more effectively increasing PA in a minority population.

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A University–Tribal Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership: Determining Community Priorities for the Health of Youth

Nursing Research Using Participatory Action Research ◽

10.1891/9780826126146.0008 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Janet Katz

Keyword(s):

Participatory Research ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Tribal Community ◽

Research Partnership ◽

Community Based

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Selling the product: Strategies to increase recruitment and retention of Spanish-speaking Latinos in biomedical research

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science ◽

10.1017/cts.2018.314 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 147-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Scott D. Rhodes ◽

Jorge Alonzo ◽

Lilli Mann-Jackson ◽

Amanda E. Tanner ◽

Aaron T. Vissman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Disparities ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Biomedical Research ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Nominal Group ◽

Research Partnership ◽

Community Based ◽

Retention Strategies ◽

Recruitment And Retention ◽

Spanish Speaking

IntroductionThe Latino population in the United States is rapidly growing and faces profound health disparities; however, engagement of Latinos in biomedical research remains low. Our community-based participatory research partnership has recruited 2083 Spanish-speaking Latinos into 21 studies over 15 years. We sought to identify and describe the strategies we have used to successfully recruit and retain Spanish-speaking Latinos in research.MethodsWe abstracted and analyzed data from archived study notes, progress reports, team meeting minutes, and in-depth interviews conducted annually from community-based participatory research partnership members. We used a nominal group process to refine and prioritize strategies.ResultsOverall, 13 recruitment strategies and 12 retention strategies emerged. These strategies relied on the creativity and perseverance of the study team and partners.ConclusionsIt is essential that we develop and disseminate effective recruitment and retention strategies that engage Latinos in biomedical research to reduce health disparities and promote health equity.

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