This study will develop a toolkit to assist investigators with employing and utilizing the skills of community health workers, or promotoras, to encourage participation of underserved ethnic and minority populations in research.

1. • Marie Mayen-Cho, MPH, Director,
Providence Access to Care/Health Education Outreach
• Miriam Hernandez, Supervisor
Providence Latino Health Promoter Program
• Laurie Shaker-Irwin, PhD, MS
Assistant Professor, Medicine
Co-Leader, Regulatory Knowledge and Support, Industry Relations, and Research Ethics
CTSI grant UL1TR000124

2. Background
 Ensuring participation in medical research by racial and ethnic
minorities represents an essential goal to improving health
outcomes for these populations.
 Evidence suggests that racial and ethnic minorities have less
opportunity to participate in potentially beneficial clinical
research.
 Analysis of numerous studies indicates that Community Health
Workers (Promotoras) are effective in increasing access to health
services, increasing knowledge, and promoting behavior change
among ethnic minorities.
 Understanding the role that Promotoras play in research designs
and the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate
training programs will help increase participation of
underserved minority and ethnic populations in medical
research.

3. Research Questions
 How can investigators collaborate with community
based organizations to improve participation of racial
and ethnic populations in clinical research?
 What role should Promotoras play in research studies?
 How prepared are existing organizations that hire and
train Promotoras to participate in research projects?

4. Methods
Qualitative
 Conduct focus groups with experienced Promotoras
 Four focus groups with Promotoras (approximately 50)
 Six interviews with program directors/coordinators
 Tool kit:
 Based on the results of the focus groups and individual
interviews, a tool kit will be developed for investigators on
how to recruit, employ and utilize the skills of trained
Promotoras in their research design.

5. Outcomes
 Progress to Date
 Conducted three focus groups of experienced
promotoras
 Conducted six interviews with community
leaders
 Data analysis

6. CERP Aims Addressed
 Aim 1 – Promote and sustain bidirectional knowledge
sharing between community and academia
 Aim 2- Strengthen community infrastructure for
sustainable partnered research
 Aim 3 – Drive innovation in community engagement
that accelerates the volume and impact of partnered
research in diverse communities
 Aim 4 – Build health services research methods into
partnerships to accelerate design, production, and
wide adoption of evidence-based practice and
behavior

7. Timeline-deliverables
Sept. 2012 Sept – Oct Nov – Dec January 2013 February 2013
2012 2012
• IRB Approval • Finalize • Transcribe, • Develop tool • Disseminate
for Qualitative qualitative review, and kit findings
protocol focus group code Focus
discussion Groups
guide
• Draft • Conduct • Review all • Obtain • Submit final
qualitative Focus Groups focus group feedback from report
focus group and interview participants
discussion transcripts
interview
guide
• Analyze
data

8. Added-value from CTSI Funding
 This CERP funded research project allows us to
 Gather data that will allow us to :
 Improve collaboration between investigators
and community based organizations
 Improve knowledge of Promotoras roles in
clinical research projects
 Improve participation of racial and ethnic
minorities in medical research
 Prepare for potential funding opportunities

9. Next Steps
 Share findings with participating
Promotoras and organizations
 Submit findings (manuscript) for
publication.
 Submit new application(s) for funding
for development of training curriculum
and training of Promotoras