Research partnership with underserved African-American communities to improve the health of older persons with disability: a pilot qualitative study

Background and aims: Underserved ethnic minorities are often under-represented in clinical investigations, often in the context of poor relationships between academic institutions and their minority communities. The aim of this study was to investigate an African-American community’s perceptions about the barriers that hinder participation in research studies and, more broadly, on the status of institution/community relationships. Methods: We conducted a pilot qualitative study, based on semi-structured interviews of leaders of African-American communities in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Relevant themes were abstracted from the interviews by a standardized iterative process. Results: Interviewees identified barriers to participation of African-Americans in research, and suggested that existing barriers may be overcome with an innovative model of a community/institution relationship, which would include open communication and cooperation, mutually beneficial programs, holistic approaches to health and disease, participatory and balanced partnerships with communities, and the establishment of multiethnic advisory boards. Conclusions: This study suggests strategies that public health researchers should consider to establish effective institution/community relationships, in order to enhance participation of underserved ethnic minorities in research studies, and to improve the health status of their most disabled and demanding seniors.