Skip to main content
eScholarship
Open Access Publications from the University of California

UC Merced

UC Merced Previously Published Works bannerUC Merced

Engaging limited English proficient and ethnically diverse low-income women in health research: A randomized trial of a patient navigator intervention

Abstract

Objective

Evaluate a community-based navigator intervention to increase breast cancer patients' and survivors' access to information about health research participation opportunities.

Methods

In the context of a Community Based Participatory Research collaboration, we conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial of the Health Research Engagement Intervention with pre- and post-intervention surveys (n = 133). The primary outcome was health research information-seeking behavior. Secondary outcomes were health research knowledge, willingness to participate in health research, and health empowerment. Qualitative interviews (n = 11) elucidated participant perspectives on the intervention.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between intervention and control groups' information-seeking behavior. Knowledge that not all health research studies are about drugs or treatments increased significantly from pre- to post-test among intervention group participants (32% to 48%, p = 0.012), but not in the control group (43% to 30%, p = 0.059); the difference between arms was statistically significant (p = 0.0012). Although survey responses indicated willingness to participate, qualitative interviews identified competing priorities that limited participants' motivation to seek enrollment information.

Conclusions and practice implications

Community-based navigators are a trusted, and therefore promising link between health research and low-income underserved communities. However, systemic barriers in health research infrastructures need to be addressed to include low income, LEP and immigrant populations.

Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.

Main Content
For improved accessibility of PDF content, download the file to your device.
Current View