title: Bridging the divide: HIV prevention research and Black men who have sex with men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We obtained contextual information regarding documented barriers to HIV clinical trial participation among Black men who have sex with men (MSM), and explored current preventive HIV clinical trial attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions among Black MSM leaders in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted 2 focus groups with Black MSM leaders attending an annual African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS. Focus group questions explored biomedical research perceptions and attitudes, barriers to participation in biomedical prevention research, and steps that need to be taken to address these barriers. A feedback and member checking (participants presented with final themes to provide feedback and guidance) session was also held at the 2012 conference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three distinct themes emerged regarding Black MSM engagement and participation in HIV vaccine research: (1) community-based organizations as true partners, (2) investment in the Black gay community, and (3) true efforts to inform and educate the community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A key focus for improving efforts to engage the Black MSM community in preventive HIV clinical trials is building and maintaining equitable and reciprocal partnerships among research institutions, Black-led AIDS service organizations and community-based organizations, and community members.
authors: Michele Peake Andrasik and Steven Wakefield are with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), Seattle, WA. Christian Chandler is with the University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa. At the time of writing and data collection, respectively, Borris Powell and Damon Humes were with HVTN Legacy Project, FHCRC, Seattle. Katharine Kripke is with Futures Institute, Washington, DC. Daniel Eckstein is with NOVA Research Company, Bethesda, MD.
authors: Michele Peake
authors: MP
authors: Andrasik
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Chandler
authors: Borris
authors: B
authors: Powell
authors: Damon
authors: D
authors: Humes
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Wakefield
authors: Katharine
authors: K
authors: Kripke
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Eckstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D035843:Biomedical Research; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014481:United States; D001741:Black or African American