Partners in research: Engagement for action

Partners in Research (PIR) is an experiential training, developed and delivered by a community/academic team, which prepares researchers and community-based organizations (CBOs) to engage in research partnerships. The goals of PIR are to: 1) increase knowledge of research among CBOs and knowledge of communities among researchers; 2) enhance capacity of CBOs and researchers to engage in partnerships; and 3) assist CBOs and researchers to communicate with policy-makers. PIR includes interactive exercises designed to overcome barriers to trust.

Community Engagement introduces health research, its risks and benefits, and how results can be used. Participants engage in skill building for developing effective, equitable partnerships. Researcher Engagement covers benefits and challenges of partnerships and principles of community-based research. Researchers learn about community context through a tour led by local leaders. Researcher and CBO participants meet to discuss mutual interests. Policy Engagement introduces policy processes and how to combine scientific evidence with community experience to inform policy-makers.

Thirty eight community participants and 18 university participants completed pre and post questionnaires measuring efficacy, attitudes and knowledge concerning trust, communication, equity, and commitment. Community participants scores increased in efficacy and knowledge related to trust and commitment, and in efficacy related to communications and equity. University participants showed increases in efficacy related to trust, communication, equity and commitment and attitudes related to communication.

Thus far, PIR training has resulted in two emerging research partnerships; one to address recognition of and response to stroke symptoms and another focused on physical activity among those with chronic mental illnesses.