Facilitators and Barriers to Health Research Knowledge and Participation Among Arab/Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Patients in the US.

Abstract

Research examining Arab and Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) health disparities faces several research limitations. These obstacles include unrepresentative national data due to the absence of a MENA identifier on the US Census, and a lack of Arab/MENA American participant trust in surveying bodies. This research hesitancy prompts the need for targeted investigation of the barriers preventing Arab/MENA Americans from participating in health research. Using community- and patient-centered methods, we created and disseminated a patient-facing survey to identify barriers to Arab/MENA American research participation. Through regular meetings and collaboration with stakeholders on research instrument development and participant recruitment, a novel quantitative survey was created (April-May 2023) to identify barriers affecting Arab/MENA American participation in health research and to explore their experiences and opportunities for improvement in the healthcare sector. The survey instruments assessed interest in research, as well as the motivators and barriers to clinical research participation. The data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics and logistic regression models. A total of 149 respondents had non-missing values on both outcomes. The study sample was largely college educated and foreign-born. Over three quarters of respondents (77.5%) felt they knew what health research was while slightly less than three quarter of respondents (72.5%) would accept to participate in a health research study in the future. Those who were foreign-born, in lower income levels (< $65k), or had low English proficiency or acculturation were less likely to report knowing what health research was. Facilitators to participating in research included a belief that participation would improve health, the idea of contributing to science, if monetary compensation was available, and if participation could be withdrawn at any time. These data further enhance our knowledge of Arab/MENA American comfortability with health research participation and can help inform future interventions. Immigration and sociodemographic factors are related to knowledge and willingness to participate as are several ideals including a desire to improve community health.