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

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.