title: Recruiting ethnic minority participants to a clinical trial: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the motives and experiences of different ethnic groups participating in a randomised double blind placebo-controlled trial of montelukast in preschool wheeze, and to assess parents' or guardians' understanding of trial procedures and their implications, including the collection of genetic material.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative interviews with parents or guardians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interviews occurred in the homes of London children recruited to a national multicentre clinical trial following primary and secondary care attendance with wheeze.
  
  
  METHODS
  42 parents (20 of Bangladeshi origin, 10 white UK, 12 other ethnicities) of preschool children enrolled in a clinical trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bangladeshi families were relatively reluctant to participate in the qualitative study, despite strong engagement with the parent study. Anxiety related to wheezing was a common primary motive for trial enrolment. Parents viewed the trial as a route to improved treatment. Verbal delivery of trial information appeared more effective than study literature, especially for Bangladeshi families, with low parental literacy and high levels of trust in medical professionals potential contributors to this effect. All ethnic groups expressed a low understanding and/or retention of essential study concepts such as randomisation and genetic testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bangladeshi families are particularly motivated to participate in clinical trials despite variable comprehension of study concepts. This motivation is more strongly contingent on strong researcher-subject rapport than on the quality of study literature. Trial teams seeking to recruit from South Asian populations should emphasise face-to-face verbal explanation of trial concepts and procedures and consider modified trial literature.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Paediatrics, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Macneill
authors.forename: Chinedu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nwokoro
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seale