"… Work Really Is Being Done and It's Very Worthwhile …": Reflections from Community Advisory Board Members.

Area of Science:

• Public Health Research
• Community-Based Participatory Research

Background:

• The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) is a federally funded initiative across four states.
• The HCS aims to reduce fatal opioid overdoses.
• Each participating state established a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to ensure research relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the personal and professional benefits experienced by members of the Massachusetts HCS Community Advisory Board (HCS-MA CAB).
• To identify strategies that enhance the benefits of participation for HCS-MA CAB members.

Main Methods:

• Nineteen out of 20 HCS-MA CAB members participated.
• Members responded to prompts regarding the impact of their involvement on their individual capacity, community work, and the study.
• Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the qualitative responses.

Main Results:

• Participants reported mutual learning within an "honest and open space."
• New professional relationships were formed.
• Members expressed pride and gratitude for contributing to a shared objective.

Conclusions:

• Community engagement and incorporating diverse knowledge systems are highly valuable for CAB members.
• The study highlights the positive impact of CAB participation on individuals and community-research partnerships.