Building trust and awareness to increase AZ Native Nation participation in the COVID-19 vaccine trials

Project Description

Despite major efforts to prevent and manage the COVID-19 pandemic, Native nations in Arizona have experienced some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infection per capita in the United States. This research project focuses on building trust and awareness about COVID-19 and the ongoing and future Phase III clinical trials among American Indian communities in Arizona.

We have mobilized a network of Community Health Representatives (CHRs) across three tribes to culturally adapt and provide COVID-19 education materials to Native communities in Arizona and to increase awareness about COVID-19 clinical trials and vaccines.

In doing so, we hope to prevent the spread of COVID-19, lessen the impact on Native nations, and better reflect American Indian populations in COVID-19 vaccine uptake and clinical trial research.

The long term goal of this study is to conduct community-engaged research and outreach to increase COVID19 awareness and education among AI/AN communities in Arizona disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and to reduce misinformation and mistrust. The goal of this Administrative Supplement is to establish effective, culturally appropriate strategies to enhance participation of AI/AN communities in prevention and treatment of COVID-19, including vaccine trials and future vaccine uptake.

We propose a multi-modal approach to gain a deeper understanding of community health representatives (CHRs) and community members’ knowledge, attitudes, concerns and needs, regarding COVID-19 vaccine trial participation and vaccination uptake (Aim 1); to review and adapt existing COVID-19 vaccine trial educational materials to be culturally relevant and appropriate (Aim 2); and to engage with AI/AN communities in Arizona to build awareness about vaccine trials and increase intention to participate in the trials (Aim 3). This work will be guided by a community engagement framework, which emphasizes equitable participation between scientists and community members in all phases of the research. 

Study title: Building trust and awareness to increase AZ Native Nation participation in the COVID-19 vaccine trials
Funding: This study was funded by NIMHD/NIH 3U54MD012388-04S5
IRB project number: 1680592

About the investigators