CBPR Implementation Framework for Community-Academic Partnerships.

Area of Science:

• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
• Health Equity
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Community-academic research partnerships are crucial for advancing health equity.
• Existing implementation frameworks often lack components for addressing power dynamics and equity.
• The Engage for Equity (E2) study aimed to address these gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the CBPR Conceptual Model as an implementation framework for community-academic partnerships.
• To assess how training in the CBPR model influences partnering practices and health equity outcomes.
• To identify opportunities and challenges in applying the CBPR model within diverse research contexts.

Main Methods:

• Intervention trial involving 25 community/academic research teams.
• Two-day training on the CBPR Conceptual Model and applied tools.
• Post-training interviews analyzed using Diffusion of Innovation theory, intent to use, and collective reflection.

Main Results:

• The CBPR model demonstrated flexibility as an implementation framework.
• Teams found concrete uses for CBPR tools in planning and evaluation.
• The model inspired collective reflection, improving partnering practices and equity values.

Conclusions:

• The CBPR model effectively incorporates collaborative processes and power-sharing strategies.
• It addresses key factors for health equity work often missing in traditional implementation frameworks.
• The CBPR model offers a valuable framework for enhancing community-academic partnerships and promoting health equity.