Community perspective analysis: Informing the design of a community-academic research readiness protocol

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community-Engaged Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Public health crises reveal systemic issues like racism and governance failures, hindering effective community-academic responses.
• Past collaborations in Flint, Michigan, were insufficient to navigate crises, highlighting the need for improved research protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop community-engaged recommendations for a rapid research response to public health emergencies.
• To inform the creation of the Research Readiness and Partnership Protocol (R2P2).

Main Methods:

• Co-development of the R2P2 by the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research Community Engagement program and Flint's Community Based Organization Partners.
• Extensive literature review and key interviews conducted by the R2P2 Workgroup.

Main Results:

• Identified key principles for effective community-academic partnerships during public health crises.
• Detailed recommendations for establishing trust, ensuring transparency, clear communication, equitable resource sharing, and addressing systemic racism.

Conclusions:

• Community perspectives are essential for developing meaningful partnerships to address public health crises, especially in communities of color.
• Highlights the need for greater academic acknowledgment and utilization of community-based participatory research (CBPR).