Utilizing community based participatory research (CBPR) to implement community driven interventions

Obesity and diabetes have become a worldwide health concern. In East Los Angeles, nearly three-quarters of the population are obese which increases the risk of developing diabetes. The deaths related to diabetes are higher in this community than other parts of Los Angeles County. Using CBPR to guide the research, the Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative was developed to study what people want and need to help prevent obesity and diabetes. As part of a two-year research and planning process, a Community Advisory Board (CAB) was formed to lead in the identification of interventions. Members committed to meeting monthly to strategize intervention ideas. A social ecological model was used to explain the research project and to guide discussion on contributors to and possible interventions for combating obesity and diabetes. The CAB guided the development of several programs and events from the interventions they identified. They believed the most impactful interventions would be nutrition education via supermarket tours, adult and teen nutrition classes, a diabetes health fair and a town hall. The programs and events have been well attended by the community and there are requests to continue the programs to raise awareness in combating the obesity and diabetes epidemic. Although the CAB members were nonacademic researchers, they were considered equal partners in devising and carrying out the interventions that would affect their community. CBPR can create strong partnerships between researchers and community members and because community driven interventions are tailored to fit the community, they are more likely to be successful.