The CABs were especially concerned about the individual benefits of participation. Consequently, we designed our study to give immediate tangible benefit to participants by providing comprehensive laboratory workups and physical examinations. The prospect that the examination would occur every three years was a considerable benefit since it may serve as the only preventive medical exam for some of the participants until their next HANDLS visit. We were particularly guided by data reported by G. Corbie-Smith, Thomas, Williams, and Moody-Ayers (1999) that African Americans would be more interested in participating in medical research if there was honest communication between the research investigators and participants.
