Challenges and successes of conducting research on racial discrimination and health in community health centers: A qualitative analysis

Research on racial discrimination and health faces numerous challenges, including: (a) the challenges of engaging with communities of color that have historically been exploited in medical research; (b) the sensitivity of the topics of race and racial discrimination; and (c) logistical difficulties, e.g., time and space constraints, in under-resourced facilities. Though the mission and patient population of community health centers may make this setting ideal for research on racial and ethnic health disparities, practical challenges at the system, provider and patient levels have been documented. This presentation will describe challenges and successes experienced while conducting a study on racial discrimination and risk of chronic disease in four Boston community health centers. We will first discuss lessons learned working within in settings with limited space and access. We will then offer models for respectful interaction with providers, staff and participants, as relates to initial contact with health center staff through to study protocol administration with participants. Finally, we will present a qualitative analysis of participant feedback during the course of completing our study on racial discrimination as relates to both personal reactions and interpersonal interactions. Our findings suggest that although concerns about conducting research on racial discrimination have merit, this important subject can be explored in community health centers in a respectful and scientifically rigorous manner.