Technical assistance workshops' efficacy in enhancing leader participation in community-based participatory research (CBPR)

Purpose: Despite significant efforts in recent years to increase diversity in community-based cancer control program delivery and research, African Americans remain severely underrepresented in this field. The nation's oldest continuous community-based cancer control effort, the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, sought to develop the first formalized curriculum-based approach to preparing community leaders and junior investigators for conducting community-based participatory cancer programmatic and research in the African American community.

Methodology: NBLIC developed the Community Partners for Cancer Education (CPCE) program to assist community leaders in activities related to development, implementation and evaluation of cancer awareness efforts, including infrastructure development, coalition building and establishing partnerships. NBLIC also accepted pilot research projects in community-based cancer control in African American populations or communities through developmental research grant applications. Technical Assistance Workshops (TAW) for participants were developed, implemented and evaluated.

Results: A cadre of 35 community leaders and 32 junior investigators from the four NBLIC II regions (Eastern, Midwestern, Southern and Western) completed technical assistance training at four separate workshops ranging from a half to a full day. In this sample of relatively young (85% below 50 years of age), highly educated junior investigators, we found clear evidence of an awareness of the cancer health disparity and a willingness to engage in efforts aimed at reducing this disparity. Findings support the need for intensified technical assistance among African American community leaders and young scientists to enhance participation in CBPR.