Page 10 - Symposium Flip Book_4.14.21

Weathering the Storms: Feasibility Conducting Focus Groups in

Rural and Frontier Areas

Dr. Sarah Mollman

Background: Rural Americans experience significant health disparities exacerbated by geographical isolation
and distance to healthcare facilities. These health disparities can be reduced by including rural populations in
research so their needs, resources, and input can be integrated into healthcare interventions.
Storms & Adaptations: Focus groups come with challenges even when they occur as planned. The team
encountered three ‘storms’ that impacted the project and timeline considerably. Though not the original
intention of the project team, five of the six focus groups were conducted utilizing technology. The team was
able to complete the project on time despite the storms. The team affirms the major essence of the focus groups
was captured through the various technology used and the findings are valid.

Implications: Due to the pandemic, the use of technology dramatically increased, including in research.
Technology may serve as a conduit to increase representation of rural participants, negating many of the
known barriers to accessing rural populations. Incorporating technology will lead to more diverse, inclusive,
and representative research studies. When planning to conduct research in rural areas, a significant
consideration to using technology is the availability and access to reliable internet services in those areas.
Conclusion: Technology use in research may enhance a project’s feasibility and viability by decreasing barriers
and costs, especially in rural areas; thus, assuring geographically isolated participants are represented.
Additional methods for incorporating technology into research will be discovered to improve health policy,
practice, and equity for rural populations.

The speaker declares no actual or perceived conflicts of interest.