Development of a multi-component intervention to promote participation of Black and Latinx individuals in biomedical research.

Introduction: Barriers to research participation by racial and ethnic minority group members are multi-factorial, stem from historical social injustices and occur at participant, research team, and research process levels. The informed consent procedure is a key component of the research process and represents an opportunity to address these barriers. This manuscript describes the development of the Strengthening Translational Research in Diverse Enrollment (STRIDE) intervention, which aims to improve research participation by individuals from underrepresented groups.

Come from away: Best practices in mini-sabbaticals for the development of young investigators: a White Paper by the SEQUIN (mini-Sabbatical Evaluation and QUality ImprovemeNt) Group.

Mini-sabbaticals are formal short-term training and educational experiences away from an investigator's home research unit. These may include rotations with other research units and externships at government research or regulatory agencies, industry and non-profit programs, and training and/or intensive educational programs. The National Institutes of Health have been encouraging training institutions to consider offering mini-sabbaticals, but given the newness of the concept, limited data are available to guide the implementation of mini-sabbatical programs.

Vaginal douching among adolescent and young women: more challenges than progress.

The practice of vaginal douching dates back centuries. Numerous studies have shown that douching is quite prevalent and often begins during adolescence. Motivation for the initiation and maintenance of this practice appears complex, and presents challenges to the intervention efforts.

Early onset of vaginal douching is associated with false beliefs and high-risk behavior.

Background: Vaginal douching in young women has been linked to a variety of adverse reproductive health consequences.

Objectives: To explore associations with early onset (< or =15 years old) of douching.

Study Design: A confidential survey was self-administered to convenience samples of women attending seven primary care clinics.

Mass media as a population-level intervention tool for Chlamydia trachomatis screening: report of a pilot study.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility and affect of mass media use in a population-level intervention for chlamydia screening promotion.

Methods: A population-level chlamydia intervention protocol was field tested. The intervention, targeting 15-25-year-old individuals, was designed to: (a) increase awareness of personal risk for chlamydial infection; (b) facilitate dissemination of chlamydia knowledge by use of a telephone hot line; and (c) promote care-seeking behavior (report for a chlamydia screening program).

Douching behavior in high-risk adolescents. What do they use, when and why do they douche?

Objectives: To describe feminine hygiene practices and douching behavior in adolescent women.

Design: A cross-sectional anonymous survey.

Subjects: Adolescents (majority rural) admitted to a correctional institution for girls.