title: African American women's perceptions and attitudes regarding participation in medical research: the Mayo Clinic/The Links, Incorporated partnership.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine perceptions and attitudes toward health-related research participation among professional African American women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were members of an African American women's service organization, The Links, Incorporated. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires at The Links, Incorporated 2012 National Assembly. Sociodemographics, prior research experience, intention to participate (ITP), willingness to participate (WTP) in a variety of research studies and attitudes about research participation were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 381 surveys were analyzed. A majority of respondents were married (66%), employed (69%), and college educated (96%). Median age was 59; 38% reported prior research participation. Overall, 78% agreed with the statement, "Participation in research will mean better care," 24% agreed "Participation in research is risky" and 3% agreed "Scientists cannot be trusted." Fifty-two percent agreed with the statement, "Research conducted in the U.S. is ethical." Mean ITP in research was 4.9±1.7 on a rating scale of 1 ("definitely no") to 7 ("definitely yes"). WTP was highest for an interview study and providing a blood sample, and lowest for clinical trial and medical record review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attitudes toward research participation were generally favorable among professional African American women; many expressed WTP in a variety of research study types.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: LaPrincess C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Sharonne N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Monica W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Joyce E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Balls-Berry
authors.forename: Michele Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Halyard
authors.forename: Vivian W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Pinn
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Radecki Breitkopf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D035843:Biomedical Research; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation; D010465:Perception; D035842:Research Subjects / Q000523:psychology*; D035844:Researcher-Subject Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult