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

Abstract: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.