Challenges and Opportunities in Recruitment and Retention: Perspectives from the Research Community

BACKGROUND: The research literature is replete with the challenges investigators face in the recruitment and retention of minority communities into research. Nevertheless, the research community [e.g., research investigators and personnel; members and staff of institutional review boards (IRBs)] continues to grapple with the nuances and challenges of effective recruitment and retention of minorities. To better understand and develop the most effective recruitment and retention strategies, we must delineate the attitudes toward community engagement, experiences working with minority communities, challenges in the recruitment and retention of minorities and the actions taken to increase these efforts. METHODS: We conducted an online survey with the research community (n=1500) who have experience conducting human subjects' research. The goal was to gain an understanding of their attitudes toward engagement with minority communities, perceived recruitment and retention challenges, and effective strategies. The sample was culled from a variety of sources including, but not limited to: 1) Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R) membership database; the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) investigators; and, investigators from P60 and P20 centers that were funded by the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD). RESULTS: This presentation will detail effective recruitment and retention strategies utilized and related challenges experienced by the research community. CONCLUSION: Findings from this research can be used to strengthen the capacity of research investigators, institutional review board members, and other research personnel to effectively engage, recruit, and retain minorities in research.