“Bridging Gaps: Recruiting Asian and Black/African American Participants in COVID-19 Clinical Trials and Creating Culturally Competent Messages” validated findings that researchers can bridge gaps in clinical trial hesitancy by increasing transparency, acknowledging past unethical practices, using credible messengers, communicating successes, and partnering with communities. Two sample messages were developed for each racial group, then tested in focus groups composed of highly rated participants from the first round. Participants shared attitudes towards clinical trials and perceptions of elements from the sample messages. Participants recommended increasing minority participation in clinical trials through working with trusted community leaders:

1. Increase access to information for the elderly and underrepresented communities.
2. Offer meaningful and various types of compensation based on audience needs.
3. Increase community outreach efforts through partnership with community leaders.
4. Use messengers from the racial group and ethnic subgroups of the target audience.

Participants from both racial groups found electronic mail and social media effective for reaching target audiences. Asians favor data-driven messages that include statistics, clear expectations, time commitment, and acknowledge diversity within Asian communities. Strong familial obligations cause them to carefully assess risks and expect fair compensation. The findings in Round II reinforce the earlier findings that African American communities require recruitment messaging that address fears and mistrust while Asian Americans are drawn to messages that are more scientific and logical. Effective strategies include partnering with community organizations, increasing community outreach efforts, increasing accessibility to and transparency of information, utilizing trusted communicators from within the community and tapping into the power of “word of mouth”, and utilizing far-reaching electronic channels of communication.