Abstract:

Purpose: Recruitment of participants from diverse backgrounds is crucial to the generalizability of genetic research, but has proven challenging. We retrospectively evaluated recruitment methods used for a study on return of genetic results.

Methods: The costs of study design, development, and participant enrollment were calculated, and the characteristics of the participants enrolled through the seven recruitment methods were examined.

Results: A total of 1118 participants provided consent, a blood sample, and questionnaire data. The estimated cost across recruitment methods ranged from $579 to $1666 per participant and required a large recruitment team. Recruitment methods using flyers and staff networks were the most cost-efficient and resulted in the highest completion rate. Targeted sampling that emphasized the importance of Latino/a participation, utilization of translated materials, and in-person recruitments contributed to enrolling a demographically diverse sample.

Conclusions: Although all methods were deployed in the same hospital or neighborhood and shared the same staff, each recruitment method was different in terms of cost and characteristics of the enrolled participants, suggesting the importance of carefully choosing the recruitment methods based on the desired composition of the final study sample. This analysis provides information about the effectiveness and cost of different methods to recruit adults for genetic research.

The CCTST Community Engagement Fall Speaker Series featured three events November 14-15, 2017:

Community Health Awards Reception and Dinner

The 2017 Community Health Awards Reception and Dinner, 6:00 PM Tuesday, November 14, 2017 in Music Hall's newly restored Corbett Tower, 1241 Elm St. included a keynote presentation by  Alondra Nelson, PhD who discussed Genomic Research & Health: What Does Race & Community Have To Do With It?  Joining her was Vence Bonham, JD, an associate investigator in the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).  Community Health Awards were presented to recognize community health advocates, research partnerships, students, and community physicians/groups. Click here to view Community Awards Dinner flyer.

Dr. Nelson is president of the Social Science Research Council and professor of sociology at Columbia University, where she served as the inaugural Dean of Social Science. A scholar of science, medicine, and social inequality, her recent books include The Social Life of DNA: Race, Reparations, and Reconciliation after the Genome and Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight Against Medical Discrimination. She is chair of the American Sociological Association's Science, Knowledge, and Technology section and serves on the Board of Directors of the Data and Society Research Institute. 

Mr. Bonham has served as an associate investigator in the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) since 2003. He leads the Health Disparities Genomics Unit, focusing his research primarily on the social influences of new genomic knowledge, particularly in communities of color. He studies how genomics influences the use of the constructs of race and ethnicity in biomedical research and clinical care and the role of genomics in health inequities. Mr. Bonham also serves as the senior advisor to the NHGRI director on genomics and health disparities.

2017 CCTST Community Advocacy, Partnership and Research Awards

The CCTST Community Advocacy, Partnership and Research Awards honor excellence in leadership, collaboration, and health promotion in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.

The Community Health Advocate Award recognizes an individual in the community working in service who has demonstrated leadership and a passion for improving health. The individual’s efforts have advanced health and wellness in children and/or adults in the community.  2017 Awardees are:

• O.N. Ray Bignall II, MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
  (pictured with Lori Crosby, PsyD, CCTST Community Engagement core)

• Dena Cranley & Barbara Lynch, Cincinnati First Ladies for Health

• Kevin Lab, Saint Vincent de Paul

• Rev. Rousseau O’Neal II, Rockdale Baptist Church (awarded posthumously)

• Latisha Owens, Guiding Light Mentoring

The Academic-Community Research Partnership Award honors an academic-community partnership that works collaboratively to facilitate innovation in research or quality improvement to impact the health of children, adults and/or communities. 2017 Awardees are:

• Shelterhouse of Greater Cincinnati, in partnership with University of Cincinnati

• Super Seeds, in partnership with UC Medical Center

• Every Child Succeeds, in partnership with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

• Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, in partnership with Freestore Foodbank

The Academic-Community Partnership Student Award recognizes an undergraduate student, graduate/medical student, resident, or fellow who demonstrates commitment, passion and innovation in an academic-community partnership project aimed at improving the health of children, adults and/or communities.  2017 Awardees are:

• Brendan Andres, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

• Ilana Bergelson, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

• Anthony DeMarco, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

• UC Nutri-Ed, University of Cincinnati

The Practice-Based Research Award recognizes a community physician or practice that  works collaboratively with an academic program or institution to improve the health and wellness of their patients by integrating research and best practices in clinical care. 2017 Awardees are:

• Ernest Ciambarella, MD

• Centering Pregnancy Prenatal Clinic at The Christ Hospital

Congratulations to all of our Awardees!

Grand Rounds - November 2017

The Speaker Series also featured Mr. Bonham at a Community Forum and Grand Rounds on November 15, 2017 in Cincinnati Children's MERC Building, Oak Campus, 620 Oak St. 

• View Community Forum flyer

• View Grand Rounds flyer

• View Grand Rounds recording (CME not available)

These events were co-sponsored by the Center for Pediatric Genomics at Cincinnati Children's. Hospital  For more information, email Stacey Gomes or call (513) 803-0917.