Tina Simpson, MD¹, Crystal Spivey, MPH², M. Kim Oh, MD¹, Tina G. Vazin, PhD³, Bernadette Chapple, PhD⁴, and Karyn Scissum-Gunn, PhD⁵. (1) Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1616 6th Ave South, MTC 201, Birmingham, AL 35233, 205-939-9345, tsimpson@peds.uab.edu, (2) Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ryals Suite 320, 1665 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, (3) Foundations and Psychology, Alabama State University, 915 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, AL 36101, (4) Center for Leadership and Public Policy, Alabama State University, 915 South Jackson Street, Montgomery, AL 36101, (5) Biomedical, Alabama State University, 915 South Jackson St, Montgomery, AL 36101

Background: Addressing minority reproductive health disparities will likely require more minority participation in clinical trials, targeting potential end-users of the given preventive biomedical products. Objective: To explore the interest of university students in participating in reproductive health research and their perceived barriers to such participation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of freshmen entering a Historically Black University was conducted in Sept-Oct 2003, during orientation. Results: Of the 691 participants, 57.0% were females; 97.0% were African American. Mean age was 18.5 years (range 16-24). Most (61.2%) were currently in an intimate relationship. If compensated, 48.8% (45.3% F, 53.4% M) reported being very/somewhat interested in STD/HIV-related clinical trials; 32.4% reported no interest. For pregnancy prevention trials, 44.3% (46.4% F, 41.6% M) would be very/somewhat interested, 37.2% not interested. Regarding possible barriers to research participation, 63.9% believed confidentiality was very important; 61.6% physical discomfort; 46.7% mistrust of research; 35.4% the Tuskegee Syphilis Study; 22.7% lack of time. Individuals citing mistrust (Χ² = 10.762; p = .001) and lack of time (Χ² = 14.607; p = .0001) as very important barriers were more likely to report no interest in participation in HIV/STD prevention trials. The same barriers correlated with no interest in pregnancy prevention trials. Conclusions: In our sample of predominately adolescent and young adult African American students, many showed interest in volunteering for clinical trials. This study highlights potential barriers to participation. Strategic planning efforts for STD prevention research targeting university students will need to address ethical issues like mistrust, confidentiality, and time constraints.

Learning Objectives:

• By the end of this presentation, the participants will be able to discuss a) the importance of and b) barriers to recruiting minority students into the biomedical research of HIV/STD prevention products.

Keywords: Minority Research,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.