To address the second aim, we conducted 2 gender-specific focus groups to assess the thoughts and attitudes of Latinos about providing biological samples in alcohol studies. Focus groups were gender-specific to facilitate a comfortable atmosphere within which to hold the discussion given that men and women are known to have different drinking patterns [22], which could impact views on participation in alcohol research collecting biological samples. Participants were identified and recruited via our partner organization, Cultiva la Salud, located in Fresno, CA. Cultiva la Salud is a program of the Public Health Institute (PHI) that aims to engage and inform residents of the San Joaquin Valley to advance personal, family, and community health. Participants were recruited via an email sent to members and affiliates of Cultiva la Salud explaining the focus groups’ purpose and eligibility. Recipients of the email were eligible if they were self-identified Latinos, aged 18 and older, who reported having had 2 or more drinks on any single day in their lifetime. We applied this alcohol use criterion because we aimed to recruit people with lifetime exposure
