The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44934

Adam B. Becker, PhD, MPH, Community Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street - SL29, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-4734, abecker@tulane.edu, Marilyn Willis, MSN, International Center for Health Leadership Development, Univ IL, Chicago, 412 S. Peoria, Ste. 315 (MC 622), Chicago, IL 60607, Lorenda B. Joe, BA, Masters in Public Health Program, University of New Mexico, Family Practice Center, Room 145, 2400 Tucker NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Elizabeth A. Baker, PhD, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 3663 Lindell Blvd. Ste. 360, St. Louis, MO 63108, and Rachel Shada, MHR, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, SL-29, Suite 2323, New Orleans, LA 70112.

Multi-site research requires partners from a variety of institutions and backgrounds to work together on a common research effort. Challenges can include the development of mutually agreed upon research questions, methods and timelines for data collection and analysis, and decisions regarding publications and presentations. Differing personal philosophies, intellectual interests, and stages of professional development can complicate collaboration. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a process in which members of defined communities, institutions (e.g., health departments, schools), and academic researchers work together to examine and address priority concerns in that community that jeopardize health and well-being. CBPR requires establishing and maintaining working relationships among individuals and groups who may be from diverse backgrounds, have different professional interests, vary widely in skills and experiences, and have different motivations for coming together. This paper will describe a multi-site research process involving four universities with multi-racial and ethnic research teams addressing issues of concern to four distinct sets of communities. The research team employed strategies to enhance its collaborative process (e.g., establishing a process committee, conducting a process self-assessment). These strategies are described. Each local research process was conducted with varying degrees of collaboration with community members. The local sites represent a different mixture of academic backgrounds and community contexts, requiring four different local processes. The collaborative process in each of the four local sites impacted the inter-university process and, to some extent, the reverse was true. These effects and efforts to address them are described.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• List methods for assessing collaborative partnerships and addressing challenges to collaboration;
• Describe the ways in which local CBPR approaches can effect multi-site, inter-university research;
• Describe the ways in which multi-site, inter-university research can affect local CBPR approaches.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.