April 7-9, 2022 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Communication Strategies to Promote Comprehensive Well-being
Communication Strategies to Promote Comprehensive Well-being
Abstract: Improving the Communication Practices of Clinical Research Coordinators with African American and Black Caribbean Patients
Background: To address health disparities in Black communities resulting from a lack of accrual to important clinical trials and research studies, it is vital to develop a deeper understanding of the communication competencies required to address the concerns about clinical trial and research study participation. The current study is part of a project that will develop, implement, and evaluate a clinical trial communication training program designed to enhance the verbal and nonverbal communication skills of clinical research coordinators who routinely discuss research participation with African American and Caribbean Black patients. Two theories provide a blueprint for the current investigation: face negotiation theory (Ting-Toomey & Kurogi, 1988) and an uncertainty management/communication competencies framework (Dean & Street, 2015; Street & de Haes, 2013). Methods: Data were gathered from nine focus groups (range: 4-7 participants) with a total of 48 participants. Three focus groups included African-American patients (n = 15) while three additional focus groups included Black Caribbean patients (n = 16). One of the Black Caribbean focus groups was conducted in Haitian Creole. Participants were recruited by the staff employed by University of Miami’s (UM) Behavioral and Community Outreach Core (BCSR) using UHealth’s Consent to Contact registry as well as outreach efforts in community settings, including churches. An additional three focus groups of clinical research coordinators (n = 17) with experience recruiting African American and Black Caribbean patients were recruited through the UM’s Clinical Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Procedures: All focus groups were video and/or audio recorded and were conducted by two facilitators. Patient focus groups were facilitated by a Black/African American BCSR staff member and CRC focus groups were facilitated by two of the study authors (one White, one Black Caribbean). Questions focused on existing verbal and nonverbal communication practices by CRCs, perceptions of what constitutes “good” vs. “poor” communication, and how clinical trials are perceived in each community. Videos were transcribed, translated (where appropriate), and uploaded into NVivo for analysis. Analysis: Initial coding has focused on core research questions and our theoretical frameworks. Using a modified constant comparative method, we are addressing our research questions using both open and axially coded data. Our results will offer insights into culturally competent communication practices that will enhance informed consent (or refusal) for clinical trial participation. Conclusion: Clinical trials that enroll diverse participants have the potential to reduce health disparities by helping to identify new treatments and protocols that work well for individuals with a wider range of physiologies. Clinical trials also offer individuals access to cutting-edge treatments; recruiting diverse participants represents more equitable access to these treatments. Moreover, clinical trials offer the promise of treatment to individuals who may otherwise not have the opportunity because of a lack of health insurance. The findings of this study constitute formative research that will be used to refine a pilot training program to improve communication skills among clinical research staff when interacting with members of minority communities about clinical trial participation.