"You have Endometriosis": Making Menstruation-Related Pain Legitimate in a Biomedical World

In this essay, the author reflects on how biomedical and gendered perceptions of reproductive health can impact an illness experience. Using a narrative lens, she relays the frustration of attempting to have her excessive menstrual pain legitimated and treated when loved ones and medical professionals trivialized it and refused to let her take on the sick role. She recounts incidents that demonstrate the embedded and limiting persistence of gendered perceptions of pain. In the end, she argues that only through strong patient self-advocacy and knowledge can one rewrite the social scripts assigned to how women cope with menstrual pain

“We have a lot weighing on us:” a Black Feminist analysis of U.S. newspaper quotes of Black women in year 1 of the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examined Black women’s quotes in seven major U.S. newspapers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lexis Uni and a university news database were used to locate articles from March 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. The study sought to determine what topics Black women’s quotes most focused on and what their quotes revealed about their pandemic experiences. In total, 300 quotes from Black women about the pandemic in 119 articles were identified. Media Framing theory and Black Feminist theory were used to analyze the quotes. The first round of analysis using Media Framing revealed that health and justice topics were the most prevalent in the women’s quotes. Additionally, the frames of morality, attribution, and Strong Black Woman were most frequently used. Expert women were the most common sources. The secondary analysis using Black Feminist Theory revealed that, in the pandemic’s first year, Black women’s experiences included: identifying interlocking systems of oppression, resisting interlocking systems of oppression through self-definition, self-valuation, and activism, and struggling with Black womanhood and motherhood. This analysis reveals that while the media is a gatekeeper, Black women can use the media to increase awareness of their experiences and advocate against disparities.</p

Using qualitative research articles to talk about gender and race inequities in health care

Using peer-reviewed articles, this activity informs students of experiences female-identifying patients encounter in health-care contexts. The activity draws the students' attention to gendered and racial prejudices and how those could impact patients' relationship with practitioners. Courses: Suitable for undergraduate courses, such as Gender and Women's Studies, Interpersonal Communication, Medical Sociology, Communication Research Methods, Health Communication, Qualitative Research Methods, Race and Ethnicity, and Sociology of Gender. Objectives: After completing this unit activity, students will learn how to (1) analyze the impact of race and gender on patients, (2) advocate for female-identifying patients, (3) help create more welcoming and equitable interactions in health care, and (4) advocate for themselves within the health-care context

When race and agency collide: examining pregnant black women's experiences in healthcare

Black women are disproportionately affected by racial disparities in maternal healthcare. Using critical race theory and the agency-identity model, this study examined how pregnant Black women communicated agency and perceived the impact of race in interactions with medical practitioners. Thirty Black women were interviewed about how they communicated with U.S. medical practitioners during pregnancy. Their responses revealed they used preemptive stereotype shields, self-agency, and information seeking on digital platforms to enhance interactions with practitioners. Also, some women argued for race-centered care and offered insights to Black mothers and to medical practitioners. Conversely, some women were uncertain about the effect of race on their care, while others wanted complete racial neutrality in their treatment. Nevertheless, this study indicates that race impacts maternal healthcare and expands understanding of stereotype threat, the sociocultural agency identity, and racial neutrality. Finally, the study may be used to support future health communication interventions regarding maternal care

The role of perceived expertise and trustworthiness in research study and clinical trial recruitment: Perspectives of clinical research coordinators and African American and Black Caribbean patients

This study investigates the role of source credibility on minority participant recruitment, particularly African American and Black Caribbean patients. A total of nine focus groups (N = 48 participants) were conducted with both patient groups and clinical research coordinators (CRCs). Using the elaboration likelihood model as a guiding framework for analysis, this study found that the credibility of research coordinators (or other professionals who recruit for research studies and clinical trials) was instrumental in shaping attitudes of prospective participants. The perspectives of patients and CRCs aligned closely, with few exceptions. For both groups, professionalism and professional displays (clothing, institutional artifacts) enhanced perceived expertise, a core component of credibility. Trustworthiness, another important component of credibility, was fostered through homophily between recruiter and patient, expressions of goodwill and assuaging anxiety about CRCs’ financial motivations for recruitment. Additionally, CRCs believed that credibility was supported when CRCs could emphasize transparency and truthfulness in communication. The importance of these findings for the development of empirically-based training programs to improve communication practices in recruitment contexts is discussed

Reducing Health Disparities Among African American and Black Caribbean Patients by Improving the Communication Practices of Clinical Research Coordinators

This manuscript focuses on the communication factors that affect the willingness of African Americans and Black Caribbean patients to participate in clinical trials and research studies. Low rates of research participation by members of communities of color have long been linked to health disparities. While there are many factors that contribute to low rates of accrual of African American and Black patients to clinical trials, a lack of attention to communication factors that enhance or inhibit the recruitment process is central to the problem. In this study, we describe results from the analysis of six focus groups (N = 31) consisting of African American (k = 3) and Black Caribbean (k = 3) participants. Our analyses focus on verbal and nonverbal communication behaviors and how they affect participants' willingness to participate in clinical trials. Specifically, when clinical research coordinators (CRCs) had a professional appearance, made the effort to explain a study in detail, made eye contact, took the time to listen and answer questions patiently, and gave the sense that the CRC was being truthful and transparent, patients felt respected and valued. Additionally, participants emphasized the importance of the process of developing and maintaining a trusting relationship between study participants and CRCs. The results of this study will be used to develop a clinical trial communication training program designed to enhance the communication skills of clinical research coordinators who discuss research participation with African American and Caribbean Black patients

Focus group questions for patients.

This study investigates the role of source credibility on minority participant recruitment, particularly African American and Black Caribbean patients. A total of nine focus groups (N = 48 participants) were conducted with both patient groups and clinical research coordinators (CRCs). Using the elaboration likelihood model as a guiding framework for analysis, this study found that the credibility of research coordinators (or other professionals who recruit for research studies and clinical trials) was instrumental in shaping attitudes of prospective participants. The perspectives of patients and CRCs aligned closely, with few exceptions. For both groups, professionalism and professional displays (clothing, institutional artifacts) enhanced perceived expertise, a core component of credibility. Trustworthiness, another important component of credibility, was fostered through homophily between recruiter and patient, expressions of goodwill and assuaging anxiety about CRCs’ financial motivations for recruitment. Additionally, CRCs believed that credibility was supported when CRCs could emphasize transparency and truthfulness in communication. The importance of these findings for the development of empirically-based training programs to improve communication practices in recruitment contexts is discussed.</div

Focus group questions for clinical research coordinators.

Focus group questions for clinical research coordinators.</p

Participant demographics.

This study investigates the role of source credibility on minority participant recruitment, particularly African American and Black Caribbean patients. A total of nine focus groups (N = 48 participants) were conducted with both patient groups and clinical research coordinators (CRCs). Using the elaboration likelihood model as a guiding framework for analysis, this study found that the credibility of research coordinators (or other professionals who recruit for research studies and clinical trials) was instrumental in shaping attitudes of prospective participants. The perspectives of patients and CRCs aligned closely, with few exceptions. For both groups, professionalism and professional displays (clothing, institutional artifacts) enhanced perceived expertise, a core component of credibility. Trustworthiness, another important component of credibility, was fostered through homophily between recruiter and patient, expressions of goodwill and assuaging anxiety about CRCs’ financial motivations for recruitment. Additionally, CRCs believed that credibility was supported when CRCs could emphasize transparency and truthfulness in communication. The importance of these findings for the development of empirically-based training programs to improve communication practices in recruitment contexts is discussed.</div