Development of a community-academic partnership in patient centered outcomes research

The need to develop community–academic partnerships is critical to building an effective patient-centered health care system. This project describes the development of a community-academic research partnership between the University of Rhode Island, College of Nursing and Clinica Esperanza. This partnership focuses on health care innovation, patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), and community-driven approaches to reduce health disparities. A number of key factors are important to the success of this partnership including 1). building on strengths and resources in the community, 2). collaborating throughout all phases of the research, and 3). promoting co-learning with a primary focus on social inequalities. The goals of the partnership are to bring together academic researchers and communities to establish trust, build community capacity and address community-identified needs and health problems. Four health needs were identified: mental health, nutrition, physical activity and prevention of diabetes. Each of these areas was addressed by community members with navegante involvement. Navegantes are bilingual/bicultural community outreach workers who are trained and empowered to advocate for patients, make free health care referrals, provide one-on-one and group health education sessions, and support/reinforce treatment adherence. An initial demonstration project was developed “Vida Sana” to improve health literacy and health behaviors among a low literacy, Hispanic community. The findings will determine whether peer-led, health-related social clubs will improve healthy life-style choices in a Hispanic population. Recommendations include 1). using an iterative process for addressing health from both positive and ecological perspectives and 2). developing interventions that incorporate social, environmental, and structural determinants for success.