Medical researchers are eager to find out what people rural communities are thinking.

And so, as part of a larger study dealing with the prevalence of atopic eczema in rural communities, Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine and Department of Dermatology are partnering to conduct a research study including mothers of infants to determine their opinion on medical research studies and what it would take to get them to participate.

The research team has chosen Richmond, Anson and Scotland counties to focus on first, and may later move to Moore, Robeson and Wilkes. The study was originally intended to span North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, and may still, but right now, these three counties are the primary focus.

This project began several years ago because the principal investigator is a dermatologist studying atopic eczema and the high concentration of the skin condition among the rural population. It is unclear why this condition is so prevalent in rural communities and a research study is required to really figure it out, but before all of the money is spent on a full-scale study, a preliminary study was necessary.

“We want the preliminary study to determine people’s willingness to participate, their reservations and their concerns,” said Chaya Spears, a research associate and project coordinator with the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

The primary study will focus on infants, since most people with eczema are born with it, and because of that fact, the preliminary study will focus on interviews with mothers of infants.

Spears said in order to conduct the primary research project, it’s important to talk to rural mothers of infants to get their perspective on participating in health research.

“What are their concerns, their comfort levels, how would they feel about certain things, what concerns would they have about their infant being involved in a medical study, what needs would need to be met before undertaking this study?”

Spears said the focus on rural populations is increasingly important because throughout the medical field, it’s becoming more important to reach a variety of people to better represent the overall population, and that includes rural families, women, infants, etc.

“We need to better understand the rural population so our work can be more whole in understanding health issues,” Spears said.

It’s unclear why the rural population has been underrepresented in medical research, but Spears said there’s a lot of debate surrounding it.

“There’s a lot of debate about why people do or don’t participate in research,” Spears said. “From cultural competency, to access, invitations ... there are a whole lot of reasons why and why not, there’s lots of research going on and that’s what we’re trying to figure out.

“We need to figure out how to work with them to improve health.”

Spears said her team has done previous studies with rural farm workers in dermatology.

“We need to meet the health needs of everyone,” she said. “Not just the populations near the medical centers. We want to be holistic in our approach to health.”

As spears travels around to Richmond, Anson and Scotland county communities, her efforts are geared toward figuring out how to meet mothers of infants and setting up interviews.

“I’ve gone to daycares, social services providers, hairdressers, pediatricians, just to let them know what we’re doing,” she said.

When she visits these places, she’s letting them know about the study and how people can contact her to find out more information.

“The response has been positive,” Spears said. “Especially once I sit down and explain why we’re doing what we’re doing. When they understand why we’re doing it and what the big project is all about, there’s been a lot of understanding and appreciation. Many people can identify with that.”

For this study, Spears will interview 60 mothers of infants.

“We want a wide range of women,” Spears said.

She said she’s hoping the entire project won’t take more than a year.

The interviews Spears will conduct are in-depth and more conversational than ‘yes’ and ‘no’ survey questions.

“I want to hear how people think about things and how they think through these issues,” Spears said. “They can ask questions, it’s more of a conversation.”

The interviews can take up to an hour and a half but don’t usually require that much time.

Spears said topics covered in the interviews include background questions, but nothing too personal.

“We’re trying to get a feel for where they come from and talk about medical research, then run through a list of possible scenarios to get their thoughts,” Spears said. “Want to know why they would or would not want to participate in a medical research study.”

Spears has completed nine interviews so far and has received positive feedback.

During Monday night’s Richmond County Board of Commissioners meeting, Spears will address the board to let them know more about the study.

For more information about this project, contact Spears at (336)716-4347 or cspears@wfubmc.edu.

n Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.