title: Clinical Research Nurse involvement to foster a community based transcultural research in RODAM European study.
abstract: The Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) can be considered the fulcrum of clinical studies, being a vital link between patient, principal investigator, study sponsor and administrative staff. The clinical research's way is still long and the contribution that CRNs can provide is crucial. In Italy, a CRN was employed in the study: Research on Obesity & Type 2 Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM). The aim of the paper is to explore and describe the experience of this involvement.
  
  
  
  The CRN managed the project in order to gain a complete collaboration from the Ghanaian population. From the first contact, the CRN decided to adopt a transcultural approach with the aim to create a relationship of understanding, mutual trust respect for each other's cultural diversity. The CRN also used organizational, technical and linguistic skills.
  
  
  
  The day-to-day trial management from CRN included the following activities: obtaining local Ethics Committee study approval; recruiting the study staff; planning the study activities; identifying potential study participants; collaborating with the mediators; managing contacts with other RODAM centers; conducting a follow-up of patients. The most important results of CRN involvement have been the empowerment of Ghanaian community and the effective healthcare promotion.
  
  
  
  The project encouraged the Ghanaian community to increase their healthcare awareness and encouraged the Ghanaian population to create new strategies to face the hard health challenges.
authors.affiliation: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia;. paola.ferri@unimore.it.
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caselgrandi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guaraldi
authors.forename: Katiuscia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cottafavi
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Artioli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D005060:Europe; D005869:Ghana / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009765:Obesity; D016746:Transcultural Nursing; D014171:Transients and Migrants
keywords: clinical research nurse, transcultural nursing, relational and communication skills, Ghanaian community