Research In Your Mailbox: Remote Blood Self-sampling Enables Participation of Underserved Populations in Longitudinal...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Research
• Implementation Science
• Health Equity

Background:

• Remote sampling technologies are crucial for studying infectious diseases, offering safety and flexibility.
• Longitudinal studies using remote sampling and transcriptomic analysis can reveal host immune responses.
• Remote study designs reduce barriers like commute and scheduling, increasing clinical research accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a remote study model for recruiting and retaining women from underrepresented, underserved, and underreported (U3) populations.
• To assess the feasibility and participant experience of a fully remote, longitudinal COVID-19 study.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month longitudinal study enrolled 40 women positive for COVID-19, who self-collected nasal swabs and blood samples at home.
• Participants used the homeRNA platform for stabilized blood sample collection.
• Surveys administered via REDCap collected data on usability, study experience, and symptoms, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Main Results:

• 40 women from 19 states were recruited, representing diverse racial backgrounds and age distributions, with 80% categorized as disadvantaged.
• High participant satisfaction was reported, with 100% willing to participate again and >90% finding kit components easy to use.
• The study achieved high retention (98%), indicating the effectiveness of the remote model.

Conclusions:

• The high retention and satisfaction rates demonstrate the utility of remote study designs for longitudinal research.
• Study topic, flexibility, and positive team interactions are key factors for participant recruitment and retention.
• Fully remote designs enhance engagement with populations traditionally excluded from clinical research.