Cultural Congruence in International Genetics Research
Summary
This study will explore how cultural differences influence genetics research in developing countries. Human genetics research is becoming more common in developing countries. However, when research is conducted with people living in developing countries, there is a chance that culture differences can lead to misunderstandings between investigators and participants, resulting in ineffective research. This study will explore challenges facing investigators conducting genetics research in developing countries and opportunities to improve this kind of research.
Scientists who have conducted genetics research in a developing country may be eligible to participate in this study. Participants are interviewed by telephone. The interview, which lasts about an hour, includes questions about the researchers' decision to conduct the study they have done, the times they noticed that culture played a role in the research and the times that were more challenging and less challenging.
The interviews are recorded, transcribed and analyzed for themes related to cultural congruence and specific challenges and opportunities with regard to cultural congruence.
Description
The objective of the proposed study is to describe cultural congruence, including diversity, awareness, sensitivity, and competence in people conducting human genetics research in developing countries, as well as to explore challenges and opportunities to improve cultural congruence. Human genetics research is becoming more common in developing countries, as researchers take advantage of differences in environment and population diversity. However, when research is conducted with individuals living in developing countries, there is a chance that culture will lead to misunderstandings between investigators and participants and consequently ineffective research. The proposed study uses a cross-sectional semi-structured qualitative interview design. Thirty to forty-five participants will be recruited. Participants will be researchers with experience in conducting genetics research in developing countries, who will have had direct contact with the participants in their research studies. These researchers will be recruited from professional organizations, through identification of lead authors in literature searches, and through snowball recruitment. Interviews will be conducted by telephone, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes related to cultural congruence and specific challenges and opportunities with regard to cultural congruence.
Study Design
Time Perspective: Prospective
Conditions
Cultural Diversity
Location
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda
Maryland
United States
20892
Status
Completed
Source
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Results (where available)
Links
- Source: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00767858
- Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on July 15, 2010
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Cultural Diversity
Coexistence of numerous distinct ethnic, racial, religious, or cultural groups within one social unit, organization, or population. (From American Heritage Dictionary, 2d college ed., 1982, p955)
Cultural Competency
Cultural and linguistic competence is a set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency, or among professionals that enables effective work in cross-cultural situations. Competence implies the capacity to function effectively as an individual and an organization within the context of the cultural beliefs, behaviors, and needs presented by consumers and their communities.
Antibody Diversity
The phenomenon of immense variability characteristic of ANTIBODIES. It enables the IMMUNE SYSTEM to react specifically against the essentially unlimited kinds of ANTIGENS it encounters. Antibody diversity is accounted for by three main theories: (1) the Germ Line Theory, which holds that each antibody-producing cell has genes coding for all possible antibody specificities, but expresses only the one stimulated by antigen; (2) the Somatic Mutation Theory, which holds that antibody-producing cells contain only a few genes, which produce antibody diversity by mutation; and (3) the Gene Rearrangement Theory, which holds that antibody diversity is generated by the rearrangement of IMMUNOGLOBULIN VARIABLE REGION gene segments during the differentiation of the ANTIBODY-PRODUCING CELLS.
Acculturation
Process of cultural change in which one group or members of a group assimilate various cultural patterns from another.
Cross-cultural Comparison
Comparison of various psychological, sociological, or cultural factors in order to assess the similarities or diversities occurring in two or more different cultures or societies.
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