More Than a Statistic: a Qualitative Study of COVID-19 Treatment and Prevention Optimization for Black Americans

Excerpt

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) magnifies the disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases Black Americans face due to structural racism, psychosocial stress, and socioeconomic status.^{1, 2} To monitor the progression of COVID-19 which has increased incidence in Black communities, US regional programs began implementing surveillance and strategies to increase testing and reduce spread among vulnerable populations in April 2020.^{1, 3} Yet, Black populations are generally less likely to participate in research, largely due to cultural barriers to recruitment and low representation in educational and healthcare institutions.⁴ Community-based methods and partnerships with underrepresented populations can increase trust and study participation; accordingly, we sought to understand potential barriers specific to COVID-19 treatment and prevention in Black Americans using focus groups.⁴ …