Community Experiences and Perceptions of Clinical and Translational Research and Researchers

What Is the Purpose of this Study/Review?

• • To understand community representatives' views on their involvement in clinical and biomedical research, researchers, and how community is valued in research.

• • To determine influencers of community trust in research and researchers' value of community.

What Is the Problem?

• • Community representatives are increasingly involved in research in roles such as advisors, consultants, and community partners. Little is known regarding their views on barriers, facilitators, and indicators of successful community engagement in research.

What Are the Findings?

• • A diverse group of 109 community members representing community organizations, faith-based organizations, public health agencies, and businesses participated in study.

• • Most community members did not view researchers as well-prepared to engage communities and few community members believe resources are available to adequate support community involvement.

• • Most community stakeholders (66%) were compensated for their involvement in research, but only 40% perceived compensation to be appropriate.

• • Trust of research and perceptions that researchers value community were positively associated with perceptions of appropriate compensation.

• • Community representatives view the most important indicators of success as involving community in all stages of research, from study design to sharing results.

• • Key facilitators of engagement include the importance of research to the community and use of culturally appropriate communications.

Who Should Care Most?

• • Community members, community organizations, health researchers, and funding agencies.

Recommendations for Action

• • Researchers and research institutions should develop and implement strategies to engage community members in all phases of research and appropriately compensate them for their work.

• • Funding agencies and academic institutions should create policies and infrastructure to prepare researchers to engage communities and provide adequate resources to facilitate engagement.