RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Although African Americans are disproportionately affected by the AIDS epidemic, they are underrepresented in AIDS research, particularly in AIDS clinical trials. This study examines a multidimensional construct of distrust and other factors that may affect willingness to participate in AIDS research. METHODS: A total of 301 African Americans (aged >/=18 years) in Durham, North Carolina participated in a cross-sectional survey. In-person interviews, 20 to 25 minutes in length, were conducted with participants. Structural equation modeling was used to develop models exploring distrust and other factors affecting willingness to participate in AIDS research among African Americans. RESULTS: Distrust was the strongest inverse predictor of willingness to participate in AIDS clinical trials. Distrust was not significantly associated with willingness to participate in AIDS surveys and educational interventions. Altruism, facilitators/barriers, religiosity, and economic group membership were also significantly associated with willingness to participate in AIDS clinical trials. Only altruism was significantly associated with willingness to participate in AIDS surveys and educational interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Distrust about research institutions is a significant barrier to recruiting African Americans in AIDS clinical trials. Issues of distrust need to be acknowledged by researchers to develop better recruitment and retention strategies when conducting AIDS clinical trials in African-American communities.
Assuntos
Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida , Atitude Frente a Saúde/etnologia , Negro ou Afro-Americano/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Altruísmo , Ensaios Clínicos como Assunto , Estudos Transversais , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , North Carolina , Relações Públicas , Religião , Projetos de Pesquisa , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Results of a study of individual participation in interdisciplinary team meetings, with a focus on the participation behavior of professionals, paraprofessionals, and direct-care staff members, were reported. Several differences in observed and self-perceived participation were noted, with the general finding that professional staff members exhibited the highest levels of participation, whereas direct-care staff members exhibited the lowest levels of participation.
Assuntos
Processos Grupais , Equipe de Assistência ao Paciente , Feminino , Hospitais Psiquiátricos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Auxiliares de PsiquiatriaRESUMO
In this paper we describe a scale designed to measure individual participation in interdisciplinary team meetings. Data from an observational study of team meetings at a residential institution for severely and profoundly mentally retarded persons were used to examine the measurement characteristics of the scale. Acceptable levels of interobserver agreement were found. A principal components analysis demonstrated that participation is not a unitary construct, but consists of at least five relatively independent dimensions. A generalizability study indicated that participation varies across team meetings and suggested that at least two observations are needed to obtain an adequate picture of typical participation. A sample application of the scale was described, and implications of the scale for researchers and practitioners were discussed.
