An Update on the Building Bridges Study: Examining the effects of two interventions on trust in medical researchers and research attitudes among African American participants
Authors: Bouges Shenikqua , Noell Debra , Osman Fauzia , Oby Alayna , Benton Susan Flowers , Clipps Antwon D , Fischer Barbara L. , Gooding Diane C. , Anthony Ruben L , Carter Fabu P. , Salazar Hector , Simó Carola A. Ferrer , Ennis Gilda E. , Van Hulle Carol A. , Zuelsdorff Megan , Wyman Mary F. , Johnson Adrienne L. , Lambrou Nickolas H. , James Taryn T. , Carlsson Cynthia M. , Asthana Sanjay , Gleason Carey E. 
Published: December 2023

Background

Data suggest that establishing trust supports willingness to participate in research studies; yet there is a shortage of standardized systematic studies testing the effectiveness of various methods of building trust. The Building Bridges pilot study examined ways of establishing trust in communities of color comparing two different interventions.

Method

Using African American community leaders’ input, we conducted a mixed method study to investigate participants’ 1) preferred format for community‐based interventions, 2) comfort with discussing dementia with researchers/healthcare providers, and 3) attitudes of trust about research and researchers. African American subjects (age ≥ 45 years) without self‐reported cognitive impairment completed research attitudes (RAQ) and trust in medical researcher questionnaires, pre‐ and post‐intervention; individual medication reviews (n = 48) and/or public community talks (n = 49). Quantitatively, we compared pre‐ and post‐ intervention outcomes with paired Wilcoxon non‐parametric sign rank tests; all qualitative themes were analyzed using Nvivo QSR 12.

Result

Participants’ mean age was 64 (SD = 9.9). See Table 1 for demographics. Quantitatively, there was greater change in research attitudes and trust following a medication review intervention compared to experiencing a community talk (Figure 1); e.g., participants expressed “positive views about medical research in general” on questionnaires following medication reviews (p = 0.007). Qualitatively, we found a similar trend during our focus group discussions. Focus group members expressed more comfort with the medication review than the community talk resulting from “positive bedside manners, positive feedback, personal 1‐on‐1 interactions and race concordance.” Focus group participants noted a willingness to participate in future studies because of trust built from their Building Bridges team interactions. “Commonality, better connection, relatability, affinity and cultural similarities” all influenced trust and willingness to participate in future studies. Factors found to reduce trust included: “negative feedback, stereotypes, predominantly white practitioners in medicine and research, clinician unskillfulness, and not feeling seen as a “whole person” by providers” (Figure 2).

Conclusion

Findings continue to support our hypothesis that more personalized community engagement approaches have a greater influence on participants’ research attitudes and build interest in research. Additional studies of person‐centered recruitment strategies are essential to understanding how to improve trust and positive research attitudes among communities of color.