Abstract P187: Meeting Research Study Recruitment Targets Is Meaningful For Residents In Rural Mississippi Counties

Abstract

Background: Rural communities have historically been difficult to study compared to their urban counterparts and are underrepresented in research. There are several potential barriers to reaching rural populations; however, there remains a knowledge gap regarding participation in health research by rural people. To drive meaningful, lasting change in rural communities through research, investigators sought to understand the facilitators and barriers to conducting research among rural populations. We conducted focus group interviews to elucidate the viewpoints of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) members in Oktibbeha and Panola Counties. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to participation in research in Oktibbeha and Panola Counties in the Risk Underlying Rural Area Longitudinal (RURAL) Study. Method: Data were collected via focus group interviews of eight men and women with diverse economic and educational backgrounds to represent the demographics of each county best. Each interview was recorded using digital recorders and then transcribed . A thematic analysis of the data was developed from each of the transcripts, then analyzed and interpreted by three qualitative researchers. Results: Focus Group Participants (FGPs) identified the strengths of their counties that make it easy to participate in research as; progressive thinking and diversity, close-knit communities where people know each other so that the word gets out, and “where trust is key.” Barriers to participation in research were identified as limited prior exposure to research, distrust of the process, fear that data may paint their community in a negative light, and fear that the government will take something away from them as a consequence of participation in research. Reaching the target number of participants for each county is achievable according to FGPs and would mean the groundwork they have laid has been effective. Approaches for getting the word out to people in Panola and Oktibbeha Counties about the RURAL Study included use of radio and TV, social media, word-of-mouth, door-to-door, community events, churches, paper media, going into the community, community outreach, and communicating the benefits of the research. Conclusion: Investigators concluded that reaching the target number of participants for each county is meaningful to the CABs, and it is highly likely that the recruitment target will be achieved.