Academic Institutional Barriers and Facilitators to Community-Based Participatory Research

Area of Science:

• Public Health Research
• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
• Health Equity

Background:

• Collaborative research between academics and communities addresses public health issues.
• Academic institutions can present unique challenges to community-based research.
• This article examines how academic structures impact collaborative public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a research partnership on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among Latinx individuals.
• Focused on structural determinants affecting those with precarious immigration status, who are sexual and gender minorities, and can become pregnant.
• Assessed the collaboration between academic researchers and community organizations.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a process evaluation with community organization partners.
• Gathered qualitative data on the benefits and challenges of academic collaboration.
• Utilized community partners' perspectives to understand institutional dynamics.

Main Results:

• Identified significant institutional challenges hindering community-based partnerships.
• Highlighted issues such as Institutional Review Board (IRB) delays.
• Noted institutional expectations misaligned with grassroots community organization needs.

Conclusions:

• Academic institutions can inadvertently constrain community-based research through bureaucratic processes.
• The concept of 'bureaucratic violence' illustrates these constraints.
• Provided recommendations for academic partners to overcome institutional barriers and foster equitable collaboration.