Community Engagement Methods for an Urgency Urinary Incontinence Trial

Area of Science:

• Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Disorders Research
• Clinical Trial Methodology
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• Community engagement (CE) is crucial for effective clinical trial design but is underutilized in pelvic floor disorders research.
• Urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) trials often face challenges in recruitment, retention, and diverse population inclusion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe CE methods employed in a multisite randomized trial for UUI treatments.
• To identify recruitment and retention barriers and enhance study access for underrepresented populations through CE.

Main Methods:

• Formed strategic CE partnerships with patients, clinicians, and community leaders.
• Conducted CE studios (listening sessions) in multiple languages to identify participation barriers.
• Developed culturally appropriate recruitment materials and strategies based on partner insights.

Main Results:

• CE studios identified barriers such as mistrust, stigma, health literacy, and logistical challenges.
• Identified solutions including community partnerships, tailored materials, and clinician support.
• Implemented varied recruitment strategies across sites, emphasizing tailored outreach and bidirectional communication.

Conclusions:

• Incorporating diverse voices through CE is essential for identifying culturally tailored recruitment and retention strategies in UUI trials.
• CE enhances the feasibility and relevance of randomized trials for diverse patient populations and community partners.