Community-Based Participatory Research Integrates Behavioral and Biological Research to Achieve Health Equity for...

Area of Science:

• Integrative biology and behavioral science
• Epigenetics and community health research

Background:

• Native Hawaiians experience a high burden of type-2 diabetes.
• Community distrust is a significant barrier to epigenetic research participation.
• Need for culturally sensitive research approaches integrating health priorities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach for diabetes research.
• To integrate behavioral and biological sciences with community health priorities.
• To investigate molecular mechanisms and health outcomes of a diabetes self-management intervention.

Main Methods:

• Employed a CBPR approach to test a 3-month diabetes self-management intervention (N=65).
• Collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a subset (n=16) for epigenetic analysis.
• Collaborative research design, assessment, and recruitment prioritizing community needs and convenience.

Main Results:

• Significant DNA methylation changes observed in gene regions related to inflammation and diabetes pathways.
• Demonstrated significant improvements in hemoglobin A1c, self-care activities, and diabetes understanding.
• Observed reductions in diabetes distress among participants.

Conclusions:

• CBPR effectively integrates community, behavioral, and epigenomic expertise.
• Successful biospecimen collection in indigenous populations requires community trust, mutual benefits, and prioritizing community needs.
• CBPR empowers communities and provides protections for participation in sensitive research.