IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0149609.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Perceptions and Attitudes towards Medical Research in the United Arab Emirates: Results from the Abu Dhabi Cohort Study (ADCS) Focus Group Discussions

Author

Listed:
  • Yusra El Obaid
  • Aisha Al Hamiz
  • Abdishakur Abdulle
  • Richard B Hayes
  • Scott Sherman
  • Raghib Ali

Abstract

Background: In developing medical research, particularly in regions where medical research is largely unfamiliar, it is important to understand public perceptions and attitudes towards medical research. In preparation for starting the first cohort study in the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Cohort Study (ADCS), we sought to understand how we could improve the quality of the research process for participants and increase public trust and awareness of research. Methods: We conducted six focus groups (FG), consisting of Emirati men and women aged above 18 years to resemble the target population for the ADCS. Sampling was purposive and convenient. Data collection was an iterative process until saturation was reached with no new themes identified. Text from each FG was analyzed separately by identifying emerging issues and organizing related concepts into categories or themes. A coding tree was developed, consisting of the main concepts, themes, subthemes and corresponding quotes. Both themes and main ideas were identified using inductive analysis. Results: Forty-two participants enrolled at 3 academic centers (New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE University, Zayed University) and the Abu Dhabi blood bank. Focus group participants described lack of awareness of research as a challenge to participation in clinical research studies. Altruism, personal relevance of the research, and the use of role models were commonly identified motivators. Participants were generally satisfied with the informed consent process for the ADCS, but would be disappointed if not provided test results or study outcomes. Fear of a breach in confidentiality was a frequently expressed concern. Conclusions: Participants join research studies for varied, complex reasons, notably altruism and personal relevance. Based on these insights, we propose specific actions to enhance participant recruitment, retention and satisfaction in the ADCS. We identified opportunities to improve the research experience through improved study materials and communication to participants and the broader community.

Suggested Citation

  • Yusra El Obaid & Aisha Al Hamiz & Abdishakur Abdulle & Richard B Hayes & Scott Sherman & Raghib Ali, 2016. "Perceptions and Attitudes towards Medical Research in the United Arab Emirates: Results from the Abu Dhabi Cohort Study (ADCS) Focus Group Discussions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-9, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0149609
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149609
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149609
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149609&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0149609?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yi Ma & HuiLi Dai & LiMin Wang & LiJun Zhu & HanBing Zou & XianMing Kong, 2012. "Consent for Use of Clinical Leftover Biosample: A Survey among Chinese Patients and the General Public," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-7, April.
    2. Minkler, M. & Blackwell, A.G. & Thompson, M. & Tamir, H.B., 2003. "Community-Based Participatory Research: Implications for Public Health Funding," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(8), pages 1210-1213.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lotte Prevo & Stef Kremers & Maria Jansen, 2020. "Small Successes Make Big Wins: A Retrospective Case Study towards Community Engagement of Low-SES Families," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Currie, Melissa & King, Gillian & Rosenbaum, Peter & Law, Mary & Kertoy, Marilyn & Specht, Jacqueline, 2005. "A model of impacts of research partnerships in health and social services," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 400-412, November.
    3. Hollynd Boyden & Mayela Gillan & Javier Molina & Ashok Gadgil & Winston Tseng, 2023. "Community Perceptions of Arsenic Contaminated Drinking Water and Preferences for Risk Communication in California’s San Joaquin Valley," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-18, January.
    4. Edith M. Williams & Julien Terrell & Judith Anderson & Laurene Tumiel-Berhalter, 2016. "A Case Study of Community Involvement Influence on Policy Decisions: Victories of a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-9, May.
    5. You, Weimu & Chen, Weifeng & Agyapong, Michael & Mordi, Chima, 2020. "The business model of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) laboratories – A triple-layered perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    6. Andrew Binet & Vedette Gavin & Leigh Carroll & Mariana Arcaya, 2019. "Designing and Facilitating Collaborative Research Design and Data Analysis Workshops: Lessons Learned in the Healthy Neighborhoods Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-15, January.
    7. Timothy J. Downs & Laurie Ross & Robert Goble & Rajendra Subedi & Sara Greenberg & Octavia Taylor, 2011. "Vulnerability, Risk Perception, and Health Profile of Marginalized People Exposed to Multiple Built‐Environment Stressors in Worcester, Massachusetts: A Pilot Project," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 609-628, April.
    8. Nicolette I. Teufel-Shone & Anna L. Schwartz & Lisa J. Hardy & Hendrik D. De Heer & Heather J. Williamson & Dorothy J. Dunn & Kellen Polingyumptewa & Carmenlita Chief, 2018. "Supporting New Community-Based Participatory Research Partnerships," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Beth Rose Middleton & Sabine Talaugon & Thomas M. Young & Luann Wong & Suzanne Fluharty & Kaitlin Reed & Christine Cosby & Richard Myers, 2019. "Bi-Directional Learning: Identifying Contaminants on the Yurok Indian Reservation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-18, September.
    10. Monika Doshi & William D Lopez & Hannah Mesa & Richard Bryce & Ellen Rabinowitz & Raymond Rion & Paul J Fleming, 2020. "Barriers & facilitators to healthcare and social services among undocumented Latino(a)/Latinx immigrant clients: Perspectives from frontline service providers in Southeast Michigan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, June.
    11. Suparak Suriyankietkaew & Krittawit Krittayaruangroj & Nacharee Iamsawan, 2022. "Sustainable Leadership Practices and Competencies of SMEs for Sustainability and Resilience: A Community-Based Social Enterprise Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-36, May.
    12. Erik R. Svendsen & Jennifer R. Runkle & Venkata Ramana Dhara & Shao Lin & Marina Naboka & Timothy A. Mousseau & Charles L. Bennett, 2012. "Epidemiologic Methods Lessons Learned from Environmental Public Health Disasters: Chernobyl, the World Trade Center, Bhopal, and Graniteville, South Carolina," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-16, August.
    13. Lisa J. Hardy & Kevin Shaw & Amy Hughes & Elizabeth Hulen & Priscilla R. Sanderson & Candi Corrales & Travis Pinn & Jamie Esplain & R. Cruz Begay, 2020. "Building a Narrative of Equity: Weaving Indigenous Approaches into Community-Engaged Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-9, July.
    14. Nina Finley & Talia H Swartz & Kevin Cao & Joseph D Tucker, 2020. "How to make your research jump off the page: Co-creation to broaden public engagement in medical research," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(9), pages 1-8, September.
    15. Tremblay, Melissa & Kingsley, Bethan & Gokiert, Rebecca & Mottershead, Karen & Pynoo, Emily & Blair, Chantelle & Puinean, Giulia & Blums, Tamarya, 2024. "Staff perspectives on the successful families program model: Combining supportive housing with wraparound services for teen families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    16. Alexandra Sauter & Verena Lindacher & Jana Rueter & Janina Curbach & Julika Loss, 2020. "How Health Promoters Can Assess Capacity Building Processes in Setting-Based Approaches—Development and Testing of a Monitoring Instrument," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-15, January.
    17. Julika Loss & Nicola Brew-Sam & Boris Metz & Helmut Strobl & Alexandra Sauter & Susanne Tittlbach, 2020. "Capacity Building in Community Stakeholder Groups for Increasing Physical Activity: Results of a Qualitative Study in Two German Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-17, March.
    18. Mansha Parven Mirza & Rooshey Hasnain & Kathryn B. Duke, 2018. "Fostering Community-Academic Partnerships to Promote Employment Opportunities for Refugees with Disabilities: Accomplishments, Dilemmas, and Deliberations," Societies, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-15, September.
    19. Susan E. Peters & Hao D. Trieu & Justin Manjourides & Jeffrey N. Katz & Jack T. Dennerlein, 2020. "Designing a Participatory Total Worker Health ® Organizational Intervention for Commercial Construction Subcontractors to Improve Worker Safety, Health, and Well-Being: The “ARM for Subs” Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-15, July.
    20. Shelley Gower & Zakia Jeemi & Niranjani Wickramasinghe & Paul Kebble & David Forbes & Jaya A R Dantas, 2022. "Impact of a Pilot Peer-Mentoring Empowerment Program on Personal Well-Being for Migrant and Refugee Women in Western Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-17, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0149609. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.