Beyond the camp crier: Tribal data dissemination using video-teleconference technology

Background: Community-based participatory research is a gold standard approach for research with tribes and valuable tool for addressing health disparities. Data dissemination is also a vital component of the research process that allows communication of findings to targeted audiences.

In 2010, a partnership between the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center and a northern plains reservation was initiated to study suicide risk factors among reservation-based youth. In 2011, an all-Native American team used a web-based questionnaire to collect data (N= 288). Youth were asked about sensitive topics including childhood abuse, exposure to violence, and suicide.

Methods: In 2013, the study team began an eight-month process to disseminate findings to the community. Using video-teleconference (VTC) technology the team held biweekly meetings that allowed community-based partners to learn about and engage in interactive discussions of the data. The Primary Investigator also visited the community for face-to-face consultations.  The purpose of this data-sharing phase was to return findings as outlined in a tribal resolution and preliminary meetings.

Results: Thorough examination of the data provided community members deeper understanding of the data, which served as a vehicle to tell the story of challenges faced by the youth. It also allowed the tribal advisory group to make data-informed decisions to launch the next phase of the partnership – planning an intervention to address trauma and abuse.

Conclusion: Effective approaches for tribal data dissemination are needed. Teaching the community about the data, and how it can be used, is a strategy that may result in long-term change.