The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #56770

Kelli L. Carrington, MA, CHES, Janet S. Austin, PhD, Julie Townshend, Robert Miranda-Acevedo, Lillian Cosme, Nicole Schuett, and Barbara B. Mittleman, MD. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 31 Center Drive, Bldg. 31, Room 4C02, Bethesda, MD 20892

Health disparities in rheumatic diseases are a major issue for minority communities, particularly African Americans. Diseases such as lupus and osteoarthritis are more prevalent and more severe in African Americans, causing pain, limited mobility, and at times, premature death. Data on the prevalence, contributing factors, and preventable and treatable measures are either unknown or unclear, requiring more research in this area.

We established the Health Partnership Program (HPP) in Washington, D.C. with local community leaders and organizations (community partners) as a means of finding answers to questions about these health disparities. Recognizing that multiple factors contribute to health disparities, the HPP addresses 4 areas of influence: public health education, patient care, clinical studies in health disparities, and research career recruitment. As a core element of the HPP, the NIAMS Community Health Center provides the community-based site for many of the program’s activities.

Community partners have been integral to the program’s success. They have been involved since its inception in February 2000 and continue to foster and support the program’s activities. With 68 community organizations, we have recruited over 320 patients into the Natural History Study of Rheumatic Diseases in Minorities. We have also increased trust levels in the local community for medical research, as evidenced by the patient enrollment and the over 65 requests for community presentations on arthritis care and research.

We will discuss the process of engaging community partners in the program and methods for sustaining involvement, including results of our 2nd partnership satisfaction survey.

Learning Objectives:

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• Define a multifaceted research program that empowers community members to take an active role in their health care. (
• Identify effective strategies for involving community members in program development, implementation, and evaluation, (
• Describe the multiple contributions community partners can make to a medical research program

Keywords: Community Research, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employee