Principal investigators of five pilot studies within the Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities (CLaRO) developed innovative research methods in response to COVID-19 for research continuity. CLaRO, a National Institutes of Health-funded center housed in the School of Health and Nursing Studies, supports and facilitates research addressing substance abuse, violence/trauma, and HIV/AIDS among diverse and underserved Latinx populations.
“In the face of challenges related to COVID-19, we optimized CLaRO funded Latinx health disparities research to protect participant and research staff physical safety, adhere to human subjects protections, address cultural factors related to engaging Latinx populations in research, and capture emerging COVID-19-related health disparities,” said paper lead author Audrey Harkness, Ph.D., research assistant professor at the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences. “This resulted in innovative approaches to conducting research with Latinx populations that may enhance future health disparities research, even after the COVID-19 crisis subsides.”
Amid the pandemic, CLaRO’s five pilot studies that faced challenges and adapted innovations included Mobile Intervention Prototypes, Feasibility and Acceptability of the Family Acceptance Project (FAP), DÍMELO, Happy Older Latinos are Active (HOLA), and PROGRESO-II.
Challenges found were the following:
Despite the challenges COVID-19 presented to Latinx health disparities research, it also presented opportunities to innovate. Innovations established by project investigators included:
“Innovative and tailored research approaches are needed to solve scientific, public health, and clinical challenges related to ongoing and emerging health disparities brought about by the pandemic,” said paper senior author Victoria Behar-Zusman, Ph.D., professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies and principal investigator of CLaRO. “We hope the examples presented in the paper provide a launching point for other investigators to meet COVID-19 with innovation to support the goals of achieving health equity for those who are most impacted by past, present, and future health crises.”
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