Elsevier

Journal of Professional Nursing

Volume 21, Issue 4, July–August 2005, Pages 199-209
Journal of Professional Nursing

Special Feature: Health Disparities Research
Using Community-Partnered Participatory Research to Address Health Disparities in a Latino Community

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2005.05.005Get rights and content

Working in collaborative partnership with communities experiencing health disparities has been identified as a successful strategy to address population health disparities. This article illustrates a collaborative outreach program designed to address health disparities in a poor Latino community in Los Angeles County, California, by training community members to function as lay health advisors (LHAs) to provide health education to members of their own community. The study consisted of three phases, each accomplished in a collaborative partnership among researchers, community residents, community-based organizations, and health officials. In Phase 1, a community needs assessment was conducted to identify a community with demonstrated health disparities and agencies within that community willing to become partners in providing health education. In Phase 2, community members were recruited and trained to function as LHAs. Phase 3 consisted of implementation of community outreach and education activities by the LHAs in their community. This article describes how the study changed over time through responding to challenges that arose in the process of conducting the project, the participatory or collaborative methods used, and feedback received. Strategies for successful research using community partners are presented and implications discussed for future research efforts using community-partnered participatory methods for reducing health disparities.

Section snippets

Formulation and Evolution of the Study

Obesity, lack of physical exercise, and exposure to tobacco smoke are potentially detrimental conditions that contribute to the prevalence of chronic disease and decreased life expectancy. These problems, on the rise in Southern California, affect some community groups more than others (Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, 1998, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, 1999).

Phase 1: Community Needs Assessment

The researchers initially approached the LACDHS to request assistance in locating communities meeting the identified criteria. It was determined that such communities could be found in two health districts within County Service Planning Areas (SPAs) 2 and 4. These districts were contacted to identify community needs as well as the feasibility of forming partnerships. The SPA 4 (metro area) office served a largely African-American population; although interest was expressed, structural

Phase 2: Recruitment and Training of LHAs

The advisory board suggested that HPs be recruited through community contacts. A description of the study and the role of HPs was posted in Spanish and English at the local offices of the LAEP and Pacoima Beautiful, and announcements were made at community gatherings and staff meetings. Face-to-face interviews with potential HP applicants, 14 of whom were selected for training, were conducted by project staff in Spanish. Of the 14 individuals accepted, 2 were not able to participate in the

Phase 3: Community Outreach Activities

In the community outreach phase, HPs were required to recruit at least 25 residents from their own community using their own social networks. The HPs took primary responsibility for identifying potential participants and teaching sites. Three 2-hour classes on physical activity, smoke-free environments, and healthy nutrition were taught at 1-week intervals. Classes were provided at school-based parent centers, community centers, churches, workplaces, and homes of the HPs or participants.

Discussion

A community-partnered approach using participatory research methods throughout the study fostered interactive involvement among all the collaborators (researchers, community agencies, county agencies, HPs, and community residents) to shape and enrich the study. Participatory research methods provided a fruitful environment for meeting research goals as well as for laying the foundation for developing long-term partnerships to promote the health of a community. Some general recommendations for

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Antronette Yancey of the UCLA School of Public Health, Margaret Avila-Monge and Eloisa Gonzales of the LACDHS, Marlene Grossman and Liseth Romero-Martinez of Pacoima Beautiful, Elvia De La Torre of the LAEP, and Marlene Espino-Weiss for their help and support throughout the study. Supported in part by funding from NINR NR007077 Fellowship in the Health-Related Problems of Vulnerable Populations and NINR/NIH (3P30 NR005041-02S1; Principal Investigator: Deborah

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