Table 3.
Frequency (%) of Emerging Themes From Focus Groups
| Codes | All groups | Community members | Community leaders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barriers | |||
| Fear of research or healthcare system | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Historical occurrences and past unethical research practices (e.g., Tuskegee, Henrietta Lacks Hopkins initiatives) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Lack of information about research (e.g., about the research process, to make an informed decision, preconceived notions, etc.) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Distrust (general) | 87.5 | 100 | 75 |
| Unknown medication (drug vs. placebo), side effects, or study manipulations | 87.5 | 100 | 75 |
| Cultural beliefs influenced by community’s shared beliefs/opinions (e.g., religion) | 75 | 50 | 100 |
| Urban legends | 75 | 100 | 50 |
| Selectivity in participation—willingness to participate in some research studies but not others | 62.5 | 75 | 50 |
| Mistrust due to past negative experiences with research or healthcare | 62.5 | 100 | 25 |
| Unfamiliarity with presenter or research recruiter | 62.5 | 25 | 100 |
| Unwilling to take too many or any more tests/medications | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Facilitators—intrinsic factors | |||
| Altruism—giving back and helping others (e.g., future generations) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Benefits of research (e.g., knowledge or resources gained) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Research needed/necessary/important | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Past positive experience with research and/or healthcare | 87.5 | 75 | 100 |
| Personal experience with dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) or cognitive change | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Cultural beliefs influenced by community’s shared beliefs/opinions | 62.5 | 25 | 100 |
| Facilitators—external factors | |||
| Familiarity or comfort with the person discussing research | 87.5 | 75 | 100 |
| Compensation for participation | 75 | 100 | 50 |
| Physician suggests research participation | 62.5 | 75 | 50 |
| Recruitment recommendations | |||
| Convey how university research programs have benefited individuals, groups and the community | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Need for presenter to tell a story about his/her experience with research (making it more personal) | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Need to educate audience about what research is, opportunities for participation and different types of research studies | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Individual (recruiter or organization) that audience can identify with, feels comfortable with or feels they can trust | 87.5 | 75 | 100 |
| Targeting younger generations to assist with recruitment | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Address past negative events (e.g., past unethical practices, urban myths, etc.) | 62.5 | 50 | 75 |
| Compensation for participation | 62.5 | 75 | 50 |
| Differences in approach when introducing the idea of research (e.g., dependent on person, age, relationship, etc.) | 50 | 0 | 100 |
| Need for multiple recruitment approaches | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Recommended recruitment mediums or venues | |||
| Clergy and churches | 100 | 100 | |
| Radio | 62.5 | 75 | 50 |
| Social media | 62.5 | 50 | 75 |
| Television or film | 62.5 | 75 | 50 |
| Brochures, pamphlets and flyers | 50 | 25 | 75 |
| Fraternities and sororities | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Newspapers or magazines | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Organized meetings, conventions and seminars | 50 | 25 | 75 |
| Places where people congregate (e.g., to sit, talk, listen, wait) | 50 | 25 | 75 |
Note: Frequency indicates the percentage of focus groups that mentioned the particular theme (e.g., 50% within all groups indicates that 4/8 focus groups mentioned the theme; 50% within community members or community leaders indicates that 2/4 focus groups mentioned the theme).