Promoting cultural proficiency in researchers to enhance the recruitment and participation of minority populations in research: Development and refinement of survey instruments

A community assessment instrument (CAI), to assess community attitudes and beliefs about research and services of the local medical establishment, and a cultural competency instrument (CCI), to assess the cultural knowledge and competence of clinical investigators, were developed to address the need for culturally competent researchers by the minority community that the Omaha health care system (especially Creighton University) serves. The instruments also investigated the minority community's knowledge of medical research and benefits. The CAI and CCI questionnaires were administered by trained interviewers to members of ethnically and racially diverse groups in Omaha and to a group of researchers and clinicians at Creighton University. Respondents identified questions that were difficult, not clear and/or controversial. Modifications to the CAI and CCI were made for use in subsequent focus group studies. This publication reports a pilot study intended to develop and refine the instruments.