Recruiting racialised youth to a stem cell registry in Canada

Area of Science:

• Hematology and Transplant Medicine
• Public Health and Health Disparities
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Patients from non-White backgrounds experience significant disparities in finding matched stem cell donors.
• Genetic diversity and registrant representation on stem cell registries are critical factors impacting donor availability for racialised populations.
• High attrition rates in donor registries further exacerbate the challenge of securing diverse stem cell sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the awareness of the stem cell registry among racialised young adults in Canada.
• To explore effective recruitment materials and outreach strategies tailored for young, racialised Canadians.
• To identify community-informed approaches for increasing stem cell donation awareness and registration.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study employing community-based participatory research principles.
• Conducted five focus groups with 17 participants aged 17-35 who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of colour (BIPOC)/racialised and reside in Canada.
• Participants were comfortable communicating in English.

Main Results:

• Participants expressed interconnected themes of knowledge, trust, and community engagement regarding stem cell donation.
• A strong motivation was the desire to contribute to a more genetically diverse stem cell registry.
• Participant insights provided valuable direction for developing resonant educational and recruitment materials and events.

Conclusions:

• Identified specific suggestions for creating materials that effectively engage young racialised Canadians.
• Recommended collaborative development of educational and recruitment strategies between stem cell registries and young adults/organizations.
• Emphasized the importance of building long-term relationships to enhance knowledge and confidence in community-led stem cell initiatives.