Table 4 Focus Group Themes, Sub-themes, and Representative Quotes

Systemic and Institutional Factors Affected LHAs’ Experiences

Unnecessarily Burdensome Requirements

“You got to wait on the IRB. Time is not waiting on anybody, and time is constantly moving.”

“All that stuff interfered with what we needed to get out here to be effective as we could be.”

Exploitation of Community Members for Research Gain

“We are only there to still be that African American face.”

“It’s money. You don’t care about what we are and what we do and who we are.”

Feeling Used Yet Unseen: Exclusion from Decision-Making Processes

N/A

“With us already being in the community, I think they should’ve talked to us more. …We know the people that’s out there.”

“We didn’t even get a chance to get it off the ground or make mistakes.”

Worrying that Project Termination Damaged Their Reputation

N/A

“We’re representing the whole project, and we had to go on this road because we believed that it was gonna go somewhere and be for the greater good.”

“Not only will we run into them, they’re gonna remember us.”

Disengaging from Research

N/A

“I’ve never been in a position like this, or doing research, or being part of a research team, and it’s kind of a disappointment.”

“Scrap these institutions.” …We’re all capable of teaching people in our community.”