Engaging Community Perceptions of Research in Rural West Virginia

The purpose of this study was to engage rural communities across West Virginia (WV) as stakeholders in the research process, thereby enhancing shared trust, understanding, and interest in research participation and partnership. In collaboration with the WV Practice-Based Research Network and Mountains of Hope Cancer Coalition, a statewide team of the Community Engagement and Outreach Core of the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute traveled throughout rural WV in 2018, to facilitate community focus groups. The purpose of these focus groups was to gain in-depth insights into the perceptions, concerns, and priorities that West Virginians have about health and research. The information collected in these focus groups guided the development of community-tailored curriculum and policy briefs to better engage and equip rural residents and researchers as partners moving forward. This research demonstrates that community-centered organizations and academic institutions can learn and build upon community strengths and expertise to engage a skeptical citizenry, address misunderstandings, and cultivate collaborative research capacity that addresses local health issues and priorities.