Barriers and facilitators to recruitment of underrepresented research participants: Perspectives of clinical research coordinators

Marie E Heffernan; Leo Barrera; Zecilly R Guzman; Emily Golbeck; Aneta M Jedraszko; P Toddie Hays; Keith A Herzog; Richard T D'Aquila; Michael G Ison; Susanna A McColley

doi:10.1017/cts.2023.611

Barriers and facilitators to recruitment of underrepresented research participants: Perspectives of clinical research coordinators

J Clin Transl Sci. 2023 Aug 18;7(1):e193. doi: 10.1017/cts.2023.611. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Marie E Heffernan^{1

2}, Leo Barrera², Zecilly R Guzman², Emily Golbeck², Aneta M Jedraszko³, P Toddie Hays⁴, Keith A Herzog⁴, Richard T D'Aquila^{4

5}, Michael G Ison^{4

6}, Susanna A McColley^{4

7}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
² Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
³ Department of Pediatrics (Neonatology), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁴ Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁵ Department of Medicine (Infection Diseases), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁶ Respiratory Diseases Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, MD, USA.
⁷ Department of Pediatrics (Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.

Abstract

Background: Insufficient recruitment of groups underrepresented in medical research threatens the generalizability of research findings and compounds inequity in research and medicine. In the present study, we examined barriers and facilitators to recruitment of underrepresented research participants from the perspective of clinical research coordinators (CRCs).

Methods: CRCs from one adult and one pediatric academic medical centers completed an online survey in April-May 2022. Survey topics included: participant language and translations, cultural competency training, incentives for research participation, study location, and participant research literacy. CRCs also reported their success in recruiting individuals from various backgrounds and completed an implicit bias measure.

Results: Surveys were completed by 220 CRCs. CRCs indicated that recruitment is improved by having translated study materials, providing incentives to compensate participants, and reducing the number of in-person study visits. Most CRCs had completed some form of cultural competency training, but most also felt that the training either had no effect or made them feel less confident in approaching prospective participants from backgrounds different than their own. In general, CRCs reported having greater success in recruiting prospective participants from groups that are not underrepresented in research. Results of the implicit bias measure did not indicate that bias was associated with intentions to approach a prospective participant.

Conclusions: CRCs identified several strategies to improve recruitment of underrepresented research participants, and CRC insights aligned with insights from research participants in previous work. Further research is needed to understand the impact of cultural competency training on recruitment of underrepresented research participants.

Keywords: Research recruitment; clinical research coordinators; clinical trials; research equity; research participation; special populations; underrepresented groups.

Grants and funding

UL1 TR001422/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States