Innovative methodological strategies for data collection in CBPR: Lessons from the field

Conducting studies with marginalized and vulnerable populations in the community using the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach falls within the principles for public health nursing. CBPR engages community stakeholders in discussions to help define the research problem and acceptable solutions. In this 4-year study, women in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF or ‘welfare') are being recruited to develop and test a health screening intervention for women on welfare. The first phase of the study was to develop a clinically sound, yet culturally relevant, sensitive, and acceptable health screening tool. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the data collection, analysis, and synthesis methods we employed to maintain the integrity and rigor of the research process, while adhering to the tenets of CBPR. In order to meet our aim for Phase 1 of the study, we conducted 10 focus groups with 8-12 women in each group (N=60). Questions for the first 2 focus groups were purposefully kept open, broad, and loosely structured to allow participants to talk about their views of health and what influenced their health. Based on data analysis from these initial groups, we progressively narrowed the topics covered in subsequent focus groups with a goal of finalizing the health screening tool. However, the women in these later focus groups indicated that the process of health screening was as important as the tool; so we also allowed for broader, more open, discussions about how the new tool should implemented. This dynamic approach in focus group facilitation allowed us to refine the health screening tool, while assuring that we identified critical aspects about the process of implementing the tool with this population. This fluid approach to data collection (structured and open) from focus groups is key to maintaining the integrity of the tenets of CBPR while meeting specific aims of the scientific research process. The end product in Phase 1 of this study was the development of a culturally relevant, sensitive, and acceptable health screening process for women in the TANF program that addressed the issues they defined as important while maintaining clinical relevance.