266698 Effectiveness of a community research registry to recruit minorities and underserved adults for research studies

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Wendy Pechero Bishop, MS , Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Behavioral and Communication Sciences, Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Jasmin A. Tiro, PhD , Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Behavioral & Communication Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Trisha V. Melhado, MPH , Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Behavioral and Communication Sciences, Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Katharine McCallister, BA , Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Behavioral and Communication Sciences, Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Simon Craddock Lee, PhD, MPH , Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Behavioral and Communication Sciences, Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Celette Sugg Skinner, PhD , Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Behavioral and Communication Sciences, Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Introduction: Recruiting minorities and underserved populations into population-based cancer research studies is a long standing challenge. This study examined the feasibility of recruiting adults from a community research registry.

Methods: Ethnically diverse, bilingual research staff attended health fairs at local, cultural events to invite adults to join a community research registry. We examined rates of successful contact, scheduling, and participation for five research studies that used the registry. We explored whether there were differences in the racial/ethnic distribution at each stage of the recruitment process.

Results: There are currently 6,615 research registry members (49% Hispanic, 39% Black, 8% White). Five studies queried the registry and attempted to contact 1,482 potentially eligible participants (22.4% of total); eligibility criteria across studies varied on sex, age, race, and education. We successfully contacted 582 members (39.3%); only 75 people (5.1%) had non-working contact information and only 3 people withdrew from the registry upon contact. Among those contacted, 70.3% were scheduled to participate and 332 participated (81.2%). The no show rate was 15.1% among those scheduled. There were no differences in contact, scheduling, and participation by race/ethnicity.

Conclusion: Our study found that community research registries are a feasible, low cost method for recruiting minority and underserved adults. Use of registries generated through community events may address disparities in access to and participation in health research. Because recruitment did not vary by race/ethnicity, our finding supports previous studies that argue disparities in participation stem from lack of invitation and not higher rates of refusal among minorities.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
1. Evaluate the feasibility of a community research registry of minority and underserved populations as a recruitment tool for health studies. 2. Examine whether recruitment via a community registry varies by race and ethnicity.

Keywords: Minority Research, Community Participation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have several years of experience as a Research Manager on federally and foundation funded grants whose primary focus was the recruitment of minorities and the underserved population.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5001.0: Increasing recruitment of minority and underserved individuals in cancer research