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334496
Models to enroll drug users into health research


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Linda Cottler, PhD, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Catherine Striley, PhD, MSW, MPE, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Aims: Drug use is common in the population yet drug users are routinely excluded from research even when drug use does not medically preclude participation. We assessed the effect of a community health worker (CHW) intervention compared with additional assistance through an ambassador in enrolling drug users and non-drug users in appropriate research.

Methods: The NIDA-funded Transformative Approach to Reduce Research Disparities Towards Drug Users study randomized drug users and non-drug users to individualized study matching through a CHW or to an individualized study matching plus transportation and other assistance through an ambassador (N+) to help participants enroll in relevant research studies. Enrollment status was taken from study coordinator records. We analyzed the effectiveness of both methods in enrolling participants in research studies.

Results: The sample includes 614 18 to 85 year old community recruited adults, 329 who endorsed current drug use and 285 with no current drug use. At the 90-day follow-up, 21.2% of those randomized to CHW were enrolled in a research study compared with 36.7% of those in N+. Ambassadors increased enrollment among both drug users (19.9% CHW vs. 32.5% N+) and non-drug users (22.9% CHW vs. 41.4% N+).

Conclusion: Both the standard intervention and the ambassador intervention are effective at enrolling drug users and non-drug users in relevant research studies. The ambassador intervention significantly increased the number of both drug users and non-drug users enrolled in research studies after 90 days. These findings demonstrate that both CHWs and ambassadors can help reduce barriers and help anyone become part of the population that participates in research studies.

Learning Areas:

Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe two effective models to enroll diverse populations into health research.

Keyword(s): Community Health Workers and Promoters, Public Health Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Linda B. Cottler, PhD, MPH, is Dean’s Professor and Founding Chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida (UF). Cottler’s 30 years of research has focused on community efforts in public health and has spanned the globe. She is founding director of HealthStreet, which expanded to Florida in 2011 when she moved to UF, and has led multiple studies enrolling drug users in the community, for prevention and other research.
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: 5005.0: Recent developments in substance use research