Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2026

Collecting Hair Samples for Hair Cortisol Analysis in African Americans
Published on: June 10, 2018
Trust and willingness to participate in pharmacogenomic research among African Americans: A qualitative study
Emily A Andrews1, Courtney L Scherr2, Sanjana Ramesh3
1Department of Communication Studies, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Augusta University Department of Communication and Integrated Studies, USA.
Objectives:
People with African ancestry make up approximately 2% of the genetic research participant pool, which is particularly important since they also have greater genetic variation compared with people of European descent. Historic and current mistreatment of socially and economically disadvantaged groups, such as African Americans, has negatively impacted their trust in science/scientists and their willingness to participate in medical research, including pharmacogenomics (PGx) research. The goal of this study was to better understand why African Americans agreed to provide a blood sample for a PGx study, with a focus on the role of trust, to inform future recruitment strategies.
Methods:
Participants who provided a blood sample for a PGx study were subsequently recruited for a semi-structured interview conducted in person or online. Interviews were audio recorded and professionally transcribed. This secondary analysis used an inductive thematic analysis approach focused on trust.
Results:
The results highlight three main themes: sources of mistrust, personal experiences and traits that engendered participation, and research recruiter approaches. Overall, participants in PGx research emphasized that distrust continues to impede African Americans' willingness to participate in medical research. However, participants who chose to participate expressed a need to trust the research team for the betterment of their community. Further, interpersonal communication played a significant role in fostering trust during recruitment.
Conclusions:
Past experience and historical harms significantly impact willingness to participate in PGx research. Personal characteristics may make some African Americans more open to participation. Lastly, both the content and delivery of study-relevant information are crucial.
Practical Implications:
Research teams should acknowledge harms caused by researchers and other medical professionals when recruiting African American participants for PGx research and prioritize transparent interpersonal communication. This includes clarifying how sensitive data is used and stored, and discussing protocols in place to minimize the risk of data breaches or misuse.
More Related Videos
14:43A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
09:38Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
Surveys
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu