Beliefs About Participating in Research Among a Sample of Minority Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in New York City

Despite substantial data documenting the challenges in recruiting racial and ethnic minorities into research studies, relatively little is known about the attitudes and beliefs toward research that are held by racial and ethnic minorities living with HIV/AIDS. The present study assessed the research attitudes and beliefs of a racially and ethnically diverse group of persons living with HIV/AIDS, with research broadly defined as either psychosocial, behavioral, or clinical. Also assessed were factors that would encourage or discourage them from participating in a research study. Six hundred twenty-two participants were recruited from 22 points of service in New York City; data were gathered through a single in-person structured interview conducted in Spanish or English. Findings from a series of quantitative analyses indicated that attitudes about research were primarily neutral or positive, and different attitude and belief patterns were associated with different preferences regarding what would or would not incline one to participate in a research study. Results suggest that minorities with HIV/AIDS are open to the possibility participating in research; however, they also suggest that receptivity to research may not be uniform and indicated a variety of specific research design and implementation options that investigators should consider in order to ensure sufficient access and interest in participation.