Community-engaged Research Disruption: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Research With Communities.

BACKGROUND

The pandemic has had dire consequences on community-engaged research.

OBJECTIVES

We describe research challenges imposed by the pandemic on our breast and cervical cancer intervention study with Southeast Asian immigrant women, and strategies used to maintain study continuity.

METHODS

The pandemic's impact on the research team, recruitment and retention of participants, study design, and strategies executed to these issues are described.

RESULTS

Strategies employed to address research challenges include implementing coronavirus disease 2019 protocols for conducting community research; recruiting participants online, outside of the planned community locations, and through social media; and enhancing the study design by using respondent-driven sampling. In addition to educating communities about early cancer detection, we also provided information and resources about coronavirus disease 2019, including transmission mitigation, testing, and vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuing to engage the communities in our study is critical to our long-term goal of eliminating cancer screening disparities in Southeast Asian immigrant communities.