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Developing and Testing a Method for Engagement in Research Using WhatsApp (WI-CARE)

10 de setembro de 2026 atualizado por: Gloria Aidoo-Frimpong, State University of New York at Buffalo

WICARE: WhatsApp Immigrant-Centered Research Engagement

African immigrants are underrepresented in health research in the United States. Barriers to research participation may include limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate information, concerns about privacy, distrust of research institutions, stigma, and difficulty participating in traditional in-person activities. WhatsApp is commonly used within African immigrant communities, but there is limited evidence about how it can support meaningful engagement throughout the research process.

This study will develop and test the WhatsApp Immigrant-Centered Research Engagement (WI-CARE) protocol. WI-CARE will provide researchers and community partners with structured guidance for using WhatsApp to engage African immigrants in research planning, recruitment, data collection, interpretation, and dissemination.

The study has three aims. First, the research team will conduct surveys and focus groups to identify the WhatsApp features and engagement practices that facilitate or hinder participation in research. Second, the study team and African immigrant partners will use these findings to develop and refine the WI-CARE protocol. Third, the protocol will be tested through structured scenarios that simulate activities conducted during different stages of research. Participants will provide feedback about the acceptability, usability, feasibility, cultural relevance, privacy, trustworthiness, and quality of engagement supported by WI-CARE.

The study will include adult African immigrants living in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Findings will be used to refine WI-CARE and inform the use of digital platforms to support equitable engagement of African immigrant communities in health research.

Visão geral do estudo

Status

Ainda não está recrutando

Condições

Intervenção / Tratamento

Descrição detalhada

African immigrants are one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the United States but remain underrepresented in clinical, public health, and patient-centered research. Barriers to engagement include distrust of research institutions, concerns about privacy and immigration status, language differences, stigma, limited research literacy, and a lack of culturally appropriate engagement approaches. These barriers may limit opportunities for African immigrants to influence the questions, methods, implementation, interpretation, and dissemination of research relevant to their communities.

WhatsApp is widely used by African immigrant communities for communication, information sharing, and social support. Although researchers have used WhatsApp for participant recruitment and data collection, less is known about how the platform can support sustained and meaningful engagement across the research lifecycle. There is also no standard protocol to guide researchers in using WhatsApp for research engagement with African immigrant communities.

This mixed-methods study will develop and pilot the WhatsApp Immigrant-Centered Research Engagement (WI-CARE) protocol. WI-CARE will provide structured guidance for using WhatsApp features to support culturally and linguistically appropriate communication, privacy, trust, inclusion, and participation in research. The study is guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and measures of patient engagement in research.

Aim 1 will identify the WhatsApp features and engagement practices that facilitate or hinder research engagement. Adult African immigrants will complete a survey about their experiences with WhatsApp, preferences for research communication and participation, perceived barriers, trust, privacy, and factors affecting their willingness to use WhatsApp for research engagement. Focus groups will provide additional information about participants' experiences and recommendations.

Aim 2 will use findings from Aim 1 to develop the WI-CARE protocol through a participatory process led by the study team, which includes African immigrant partner organizations and academic researchers. The protocol will address onboarding, informed consent, communication, privacy and confidentiality, multilingual engagement, facilitation, technical support, data collection, interpretation of findings, and dissemination. African immigrant patients and other experts will review the draft protocol for feasibility, usability, cultural relevance, and adaptability. Their feedback will guide iterative revisions.

Aim 3 will pilot WI-CARE among adult African immigrants residing in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Approximately 300 participants will be enrolled in a centralized WhatsApp community. Participants will be invited to opt into structured scenarios based on their interests and availability. The scenarios will simulate activities conducted during different stages of research, including onboarding and consent, research planning, recruitment, data collection, interpretation of findings, and dissemination.

Within each scenario, trained facilitators will use the WI-CARE protocol to guide participants through research-related activities. Participants will then evaluate the clarity, accessibility, cultural relevance, privacy, and usability of the engagement process. WhatsApp activity metrics, surveys, and individual interviews will be used to assess participation, retention, task completion, engagement quality, trustworthiness, acceptability, usability, and feasibility. The study will also examine whether engagement experiences differ according to participant characteristics and geographic location.

Quantitative and qualitative findings will be integrated to identify areas of agreement, differences across participant groups, and aspects of the protocol requiring revision. The final WI-CARE protocol will provide an evidence-informed approach for using WhatsApp to engage African immigrant communities throughout the research process.

Tipo de estudo

Intervencional

Inscrição (Estimado)

300

Estágio

  • Não aplicável

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Locais de estudo

  • Estados Unidos
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, Estados Unidos, 02130
        • Multicultural AIDS Coalition

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Adulto
  • Adulto mais velho

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Sim

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

Aim 1 survey and focus group participants:

  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Born in a sub-Saharan African country
  • Currently residing in the United States
  • Able to read and speak English, French, or Kiswahili
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent

Aim 2 expert panel participants:

  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Currently residing in the United States
  • Able to read and speak English, French, or Kiswahili
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent
  • Has relevant knowledge, professional experience, or lived experience related to African immigrant health or digital research engagement

Aim 3 pilot participants:

  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Born in a sub-Saharan African country
  • Currently residing in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, or Rhode Island
  • Able to read and speak English, French, or Kiswahili
  • Has access to an internet-connected device that can use WhatsApp
  • Able and willing to join the WI-CARE WhatsApp Community and participate in study activities conducted through WhatsApp
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Younger than 18 years of age
  • Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
  • Does not meet the eligibility requirements for the applicable study component

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

  • Finalidade Principal: Outro
  • Alocação: N / D
  • Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição de grupo único
  • Mascaramento: Nenhum (rótulo aberto)

Armas e Intervenções

Grupo de Participantes / Braço
Intervenção / Tratamento
Experimental: WI-CARE Protocol
Participants will join the centralized WI-CARE WhatsApp Community and receive structured onboarding, communication, privacy, facilitation, and research-engagement procedures. Participants will be invited to take part in six scenarios representing activities across the research lifecycle. Scenario participation will be based on participants' interests and availability. All participants will be considered part of the same study arm.
Comportamental: WI-CARE Protocol
WI-CARE is a culturally and linguistically tailored protocol for engaging African immigrants in research through WhatsApp. The protocol provides structured procedures for onboarding and informed consent, communication, privacy and confidentiality, facilitation, technical support, and participation in research activities. Trained facilitators will use WI-CARE to guide participants through scenarios representing research planning, recruitment, data collection, interpretation of findings, and dissemination. Participants may communicate through text, voice notes, audio or video calls, surveys, polls, group discussions, and multimedia features. Participants will provide feedback on the clarity, accessibility, cultural relevance, acceptability, usability, and trustworthiness of the engagement process.

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Quality of Research Engagement
Prazo: 6 months
Participant-reported quality of engagement will be assessed using the 22-item Patient Engagement in Research Scale (PEIRS-22). Item responses will be scored according to the PEIRS-22 scoring guidance. Higher scores indicate greater perceived quality of engagement.
6 months
Engagement Context
Prazo: 12 months
Engagement context will be assessed using survey items based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Separate scores will be calculated for performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, behavioral intention, and use behavior. These constructs assess the acceptability, usability, feasibility, and perceived effectiveness of WI-CARE. Each construct will be scored according to the final survey scoring procedures, with higher scores indicating a more favorable assessment of WI-CARE.
12 months

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
WI-CARE Acceptability
Prazo: 6 months
Acceptability will be assessed through exit-survey items measuring participants' satisfaction with WI-CARE and the extent to which they consider the protocol appropriate for engaging African immigrants in research. Responses will be summarized using item-level frequencies and mean or median scores, as appropriate. Higher ratings indicate greater acceptability.
6 months
WI-CARE Usability
Prazo: 6 months
Usability will be assessed through survey items informed by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Items will examine the ease of learning and using WI-CARE procedures and WhatsApp features, the clarity of scenario instructions, and the effort required to participate. Responses will be combined according to the final survey scoring procedures. Higher ratings indicate greater perceived usability.
6 months
Scenario Participation Rate
Prazo: 6 months
The scenario participation rate will be calculated as the number of enrolled participants who enter and participate in each WI-CARE scenario divided by the number of enrolled participants invited to that scenario, multiplied by 100. Rates will be reported for each scenario and across the pilot.
6 months
Scenario Task Completion Rate
Prazo: At the completion of each scenario, up to approximately 6 months after enrollment
The task completion rate will be calculated as the number of participants who complete the required activity within each WI-CARE scenario divided by the number of participants who begin that scenario, multiplied by 100. Activities may include completing a survey, participating in a group discussion, reviewing research findings, or providing feedback.
At the completion of each scenario, up to approximately 6 months after enrollment
Participant Retention Rate
Prazo: At the end of the WI-CARE pilot, approximately 6 months after enrollment
The retention rate will be calculated as the number of enrolled participants who complete the final WI-CARE evaluation divided by the total number enrolled in the WI-CARE WhatsApp Community, multiplied by 100.
At the end of the WI-CARE pilot, approximately 6 months after enrollment
Trustworthiness of the Engagement Process
Prazo: At the end of the WI-CARE pilot, approximately 6 months after enrollment
Participant perceptions of trustworthiness will be assessed through exit-survey items addressing transparency, respect, privacy, confidentiality, data security, and confidence in the WI-CARE engagement process. Responses will be summarized using item-level frequencies and mean or median scores, as appropriate. Higher ratings indicate greater perceived trustworthiness.
At the end of the WI-CARE pilot, approximately 6 months after enrollment
Frequency and Type of Participant Interactions
Prazo: During each WI-CARE scenario, up to 6 months after enrollment
WhatsApp analytics will be used to calculate the number of participant interactions during each scenario. Interactions will be summarized overall and by communication type, including group messages, one-on-one text messages, audio notes, and media sharing.
During each WI-CARE scenario, up to 6 months after enrollment

Colaboradores e Investigadores

É aqui que você encontrará pessoas e organizações envolvidas com este estudo.

Patrocinador

State University of New York at Buffalo

Investigadores

  • Investigador principal: Gloria AIDOO-FRIMPONG, PhD, MPH, MA, University at Buffalo

Publicações e links úteis

A pessoa responsável por inserir informações sobre o estudo fornece voluntariamente essas publicações. Estes podem ser sobre qualquer coisa relacionada ao estudo.

Publicações Gerais

Links úteis

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Estimado)

1 de dezembro de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

30 de julho de 2028

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

30 de maio de 2029

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

10 de setembro de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

10 de setembro de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

18 de setembro de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

18 de setembro de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

10 de setembro de 2026

Última verificação

1 de setembro de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Palavras-chave

Termos MeSH relevantes adicionais

Outros números de identificação do estudo

  • STUDY00010689
  • SOE-2024C3-42543 (Número de outro subsídio/financiamento: PCORI)

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

NÃO

Descrição do plano IPD

Individual participant data will not be shared with researchers outside the study team. The study includes qualitative data, WhatsApp engagement data, and information from members of relatively small and connected African immigrant communities. Even after removing direct identifiers, combining participants' demographic characteristics, migration histories, geographic locations, and narrative responses may create a risk of re-identification.

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Essas informações foram obtidas diretamente do site clinicaltrials.gov sem nenhuma alteração. Se você tiver alguma solicitação para alterar, remover ou atualizar os detalhes do seu estudo, entre em contato com register@clinicaltrials.gov. Assim que uma alteração for implementada em clinicaltrials.gov, ela também será atualizada automaticamente em nosso site .

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