The role of perceived expertise and trustworthiness in research study and clinical trial recruitment: Perspectives of clinical research coordinators and African American and Black Caribbean patients

Abstract

This study investigates the role of source credibility on minority participant recruitment, particularly African American and Black Caribbean patients. A total of nine focus groups (N = 48 participants) were conducted with both patient groups and clinical research coordinators (CRCs). Using the elaboration likelihood model as a guiding framework for analysis, this study found that the credibility of research coordinators (or other professionals who recruit for research studies and clinical trials) was instrumental in shaping attitudes of prospective participants. The perspectives of patients and CRCs aligned closely, with few exceptions. For both groups, professionalism and professional displays (clothing, institutional artifacts) enhanced perceived expertise, a core component of credibility. Trustworthiness, another important component of credibility, was fostered through homophily between recruiter and patient, expressions of goodwill and assuaging anxiety about CRCs’ financial motivations for recruitment. Additionally, CRCs believed that credibility was supported when CRCs could emphasize transparency and truthfulness in communication. The importance of these findings for the development of empirically-based training programs to improve communication practices in recruitment contexts is discussed.

Barriers toward xenotransplantation in Arab World

“…39 In addition, the Arab coordinators respondents reported the presence of a misperception between the members of a study. 40 Beside the lack of interest, a lack of physicians and healthcare professionals is present especially during the last decade due to the high number of trained physicians leaving their countries to more developed ones, hence resulting in decreased number of conducted studies in general. 41 Furthermore, the majority of the academic institutions in the Arab world are not certainly implicated in the research field.…”

“…A study done on academic family physician showed that only 46% had contributed to at least one article, and 56% attended a research ethics course 39 . In addition, the Arab coordinators respondents reported the presence of a misperception between the members of a study 40 . Beside the lack of interest, a lack of physicians and healthcare professionals is present especially during the last decade due to the high number of trained physicians leaving their countries to more developed ones, hence resulting in decreased number of conducted studies in general 41 …”