174015 Importance of community advisory boards as a community structure for strategic planning of health policy and education: Using RARE methodology in prostate cancer prevention

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Olugbemiga Tanilepada Ekundayo, MD, MPH, DrPH , Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Joyce Buckner-Brown, PhD, MHS, RRT , Department of Health Policy & Management, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Gerri A. Cannon-Smith, MD, MPH , School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Brandon, MS
Mario J. Azevedo, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS
Sridevi Alla, MBBS , STD/HIV Bureau, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Introduction

Community based participatory action research has become a corner stone in efforts to better fit research with the need of the communities and to generate change. Several best practices and approaches have been reported. The effectiveness of the practices has been evaluated/assessed with varying outcomes. However, the effectiveness of individual components of community based research have been underreported.

Methods

Using Community Engaged Participatory Action Research approaches, the process of Community Advisory Board development and deployment was assessed in relation to Community Advisory Board initiative. Community Advisory Board members were apprised of the functions of the board and engaged in the determining the process for implementation and achievement of the objectives.

Findings

Community Advisory Board Members took the initiative in designing the dissemination of information and recruitment of participants for focus group discussions and individual interviews.

Conclusion

Community Advisory Board is a viable resource for structuring the community for health promotion and disease prevention. Community Advisory Board provides vital feedback for engaging the community.

Learning Objectives:
1.Describe the features of a Community Advisory Board (CAB) 2.Describe four principal functions of a CAB 3.Describe the features a Technical Advisory Board (TAB) 4.List four functions of a TAB 5.Identify the steps for monitoring the activities of the CAB 6.Identify the steps for monitoring the activities of the TAB

Keywords: Community Building, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Principal Investigator
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.