Understanding Of Research Concepts Research Articles

Adolescents’ and young women’s perspectives on participation in biomedical clinical trials for HIV prevention in Tanzania and India: a qualitative inquiry

ABSTRACT Adolescent girls and young women are disproportionately affected by HIV in many lower-resource settings. These individuals are often excluded from early clinical trials for new HIV prevention products, thus delaying potential access. We explored adolescent girls’ and young women’s (AGYW) perceptions of HIV risk, perspectives on trial participation, and understanding of research concepts. Individual or repeated in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 43 AGYW. Interviews were conducted in participants’ language of choice, audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic analysis was applied. A total of 21 participants were enrolled from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and 22 from Pune, India. HIV risk perception varied by country, with Tanzanian participants often describing risk as behaviors tied to economic factors, and Indian participants describing risk as behaviors associated with limited HIV knowledge, inequitable gender norms, and pervasive sexual violence. Trial participation was largely viewed as acceptable; however, concerns were raised regarding standard recommendations for using condoms and contraception during trial participation, and the potential for side effects. Research concepts were notably challenging for participants to understand, particularly the concept of placebo. Although adult involvement was perceived as useful support in Tanzania, it was deemed essential for trial participation in India. Participants in our study described a need for and potential benefits of new HIV prevention products. Taking into consideration the local context, clinical trials with adolescent girls and young women should ensure understanding of research requirements and concepts, minimize preventive misconceptions, and consider involvement of a trusted adult.

Increasing Capacity for Community-Engaged Research in Prisons: The Utility of a Basic Research Short Course

The use of community-engaged research strategies is proliferating, yet some community and academic partners are challenged by shared language and understanding of research concepts. This paper outlines an effort to enhance research literacy and build capacity for community-engaged research among incarcerated persons and staff in a Midwest prison. Innovation advisory groups were developed through a larger project to improve prison culture and climate. Advisors identified a need for a short course on research to increase skills and knowledge. A member of the university research team delivered a six-part research course that aimed to increase course participants’ skills and knowledge to engage in the co-creation of interventions, testable research questions, research projects, grants, and dissemination products. Twenty-seven prison staff and incarcerated persons completed the course. They ranged in age from 22 to 64 years old, with 38% of participants identifying as a person of color. Changes in participants’ research knowledge, attitudes toward research, and barriers to research were measured using a pre-post research design. Offering a short research course is one promising strategy for building capacity for community-engaged research in prisons. The implications for enhancing participatory research projects in prisons are described and benefits and challenges of these types of courses.

Teaching Baccalaureate Students Research Concepts Using Colored Candies.

A collaborative, experiential learning activity was designed to develop nursing students' understanding of research concepts. Working in pairs, students determine if a candy company is filling bags with equal numbers of each candy color. Pairs receive 100 colored candies and instructions to obtain simple random, systematic, stratified, and cluster samples. Color counts from each sampling method are entered on a Google spreadsheet. During debriefing, students explore results, unexpected problems (e.g., inconsistent technique, missing candies), representativeness of samples (size, inclusion/exclusion criteria), and ethical conduct. Students develop knowledge to be better consumers of research and more capable advocates for high-quality nursing care.

Abstract WP334: American Indian Participation in Clinical Research: A Cultural Perspective Survey from a CREST-2 Site

Introduction: Participation by American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in clinical research may improve AI/AN health outcomes and generalizability of the research. Hypothesis: Cultural beliefs have a strong impact on willingness of AI/AN to participate in research. Methods: We developed a survey to identify if cultural beliefs impact perception of clinical research and the Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Trial (CREST-2) protocol. Stroke neurologists and CREST-2 investigators participated in the design of the survey. Participants were stratified based on AI/AN self-identification and level of education. Likert-scale responses were tested with the Mann Whitney-U test and dichotomous responses with the Chi-Square test. Results: There were 102 participants: 61% female, mean age 39, and 37% AI/AN. Eight questions evaluated understanding of research concepts within CREST-2; 89% of these responses were correct, with no significant difference in responses between AI/AN and non-AI/AN or between low (n=42) and high (n=60) education. Compared to other ethnic groups, AI/AN identify more with their culture (p=0.002) and consider cultural beliefs when making health care decisions (p=0.005), including participating in a research study (p=0.002). Using the same questions, we found no difference between respondents with low or high education.(Figure 1) Conclusion: These data support our hypothesis that cultural beliefs have a strong impact on AI/AN willingness to participate in research. It is important for researchers to consider cultural beliefs when designing recruitment strategies for AI/AN populations. Future work will address how cultural beliefs affect AI/ANs’ understanding of and willingness to participate in clinical research.

Research in health and social care: a practical introduction course

This course is intended to demystify clinical research for frontline clinical staff. Delivered by the research and development department attached to Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, together with external trainers, the course has been run successfully for more than a decade. The course runs at the Field House Teaching Centre at Bradford Royal Infirmary from March to May each year. It is aimed at anyone interested in developing an understanding of research concepts and their practical application. Twenty places are available on a first come, first served basis (closing date 21 February), and although it is open to all qualified NHS and social care staff, the course leaders require candidates to show how they will benefit and apply their learning at work. The full course is fairly extensive and is recommended if you are seeking a good overall grasp of the subject. Support from the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority means that the course is free of …

Safeguarding subjects?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the long‐term effects of qualitative interviews on respondents. The paper offers a reflexive account of the author's research practices with regard to “safeguarding” research participants and researcher accountability.Design/methodology/approachIn 1999‐2002, 20 women and 18 men who are in dual earner marriages/partnerships were interviewed separately. The study was entitled “Hard Labour 1”. In this paper, It is explained how, in 2007, 17 “Hard Labour 1” participants were contacted for a follow‐up study entitled “Hard Labour Revisited”. They were asked, via telephone and e‐mail, whether (and if so, how) they perceived themselves to have been affected by their interview for “Hard Labour 1”.FindingsSome respondents are interviewed at a time of personal anxiety. This group perceived their interview as having been influential because it made them reflect deeply on their situation, bringing their thoughts to bear when they conducted subsequent negotiations with partners. However, participants do not see this as a reason to avoid qualitative research. They describe themselves as agentic beings who felt ownership of their involvement in “Hard Labour 1”. Their approach make to reflect upon the author's interpretation of “safeguarding” which is now regarded as a concept which may be co‐constructed between researcher and participants.Originality/valueThe paper explores “safeguarding” in relation to the long‐term effects of qualitative research interviews. It is suggest that undertaking a reflexive reappraisal of research practices is important because analyses of past projects may (as in the author's case) result in a “shift” in understanding of research concepts from both an empirical and a theoretical perspective.

Older Adults’ Attitudes Toward Enrollment of Non-competent Subjects Participating in Alzheimer’s Research

Research that seeks to enroll noncompetent patients with Alzheimer's disease without presenting any potential benefit to participants is the source of substantial ethical controversy. The authors used hypothetical Alzheimer's disease studies that included either a blood draw or a blood draw and lumbar puncture to explore older persons' attitudes on this question. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 538 persons age 65 and older. Questions explored participants' understanding of research concepts, their views on enrolling persons with Alzheimer's disease in research, and their preferences regarding having a proxy decision maker, granting advance consent, and granting their proxy leeway to override the participant's decision. Additional questions assessed altruism, trust, value for research, and perceptions of Alzheimer's disease. The majority (83%) were willing to grant advance consent to a blood draw study, and nearly half (48%) to a blood draw plus lumbar puncture study. Most (96%) were willing to identify a proxy for research decision making, and most were willing to grant their proxy leeway over their advance consent: 81% for the blood draw study and 70% for the blood draw plus lumbar puncture study. Combining the preferences for advance consent and leeway, the proportion who would permit being enrolled in the blood draw and lumbar puncture studies, respectively, were 92% and 75%. Multivariate models showed that willingness to be enrolled in research was most strongly associated with a favorable attitude toward biomedical research. Older adults generally support enrolling noncompetent persons with Alzheimer's disease into research that does not present a benefit to subjects. Willingness to grant their proxy leeway over advance consent and a favorable attitude about biomedical research substantially explain this willingness.

Research on the Frontlines of Healthcare

Evidence-based practice is a common goal in hospitals, but learning about research so that the practice can be done is often challenging for clinicians. The aims of this study were to (a) develop a process that supports organizational and staff development while conducting research and (b) conduct a research study in the emergency department (ED) to examine patient population, satisfaction, and waiting room issues. A multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists was assembled to learn and do research while evaluating the ED waiting room of a Level I trauma center. A cooperative learning method approach was used to teach research concepts as the study was designed and implemented. The team demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of research concepts by being involved actively in the creation and implementation of the preintervention study. Using information from photographs, observations, and a questionnaire, the team identified the following key dissatisfaction areas: (a) atmosphere (including comfort with environment, neatness and cleanliness, and noise), (b) telephones, (c) parking and thoroughfare, (d) professional behavior and staff presence (including personal attention), (e) security, and (f) triage and confidentiality. The model of working in partnership with researchers and using cooperative, collaborative research is an effective way to evaluate and address issues related to quality of care while learning about the research concepts needed to put evidence into practice.

Electrochemical removal of metal ions from aqueous solution: a student workshop

An environmental electrochemistry workshop program on metal ion removal is described. The program was designed for undergraduate students in chemistry, chemical engineering or environmental science and teaches environmental electrochemistry through a combination of hands-on experiments, understanding of research concepts, completion of project reports and in class discussion. The students are encouraged to quantitatively describe the performance of the electrochemical cells (containing 2-D and 3-D carbon cathodes) and to consider the advantages and shortcomings of electrochemical routes to environmental treatment.