Partnering to collect health services and public health data in hard-to-reach communities: a community-based participatory research approach for collecting community health data
Nguyen, G.; Hsu, L.; Kue, K.N.; Nguyen, T.; Yuen, E.J.
Progress in Community Health Partnerships Research Education and Action 4(2): 115-119
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1557-0541 PMID: 20543486 DOI: 10.1353/cpr.0.0120Document Number: 422714
Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches are increasingly used in behavioral studies but also may allow public health and health services researchers to study determinants of health in hard-to-reach communities for whom existing data are missing. We describe our experience with a CBPR project in diverse communities of limited English proficient minorities. The process included relationship building, recognition of community needs, resource investment by community and academic partners, and shared decision-making. Community-driven implementation, academic-driven analysis, and joint reporting took advantage of diverse layers of expertise. RESULTS/LESSONS LEARNED: We mobilized eighteen community interviewers, involved researchers from three institutions, and collected public health/health services data from 525 adults in seven weeks using a 117-item survey in nine languages. A CBPR approach can make the process of collecting public health and health services data in hard-to-reach communities not only viable, but also highly successful.