Empowering community partners in health disparities research: Refining a community-based participatory research...

The adoption of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approaches has increased due to its potential to reduce health disparities through Community-Academic Partnerships (CAP). Providing community members (CM) capacity-building opportunities is a way of empowering communities and promoting social change. To support the development of CAPs, the Community Training Institute for Health Disparities (CTIHD) was created in southern Puerto Rico to capacitate community leaders in the CBPR approach and basic research knowledge through the CTIHD-Community Research Program (CRP). In 2019, six syllabi-led courses were developed and implemented utilizing a problem-based curriculum design and competency-based learning model, with 12 community members enrolled. A mixed methodology assessed satisfaction, acceptance, feasibility, retention rate, and knowledge change from cognitive debriefing with semi-structured questions (qualitative), course evaluations, attendance, program documents, and pre-and post-tests (quantitative). Results indicate high levels of satisfaction from courses and retention rates of 100% and 91%, respectively. Post-course evaluation scores exceeded 70% in five (5) of six (6) courses, with two courses demonstrating statistically significant results (p < 0.05). Cognitive debriefing results indicate the feasibility and acceptability of the curriculum with suggested modifications in practical applications, itinerary of courses, and research proposal development. The outcomes of the program include the formation of four partnerships and the development of three research proposals. Capacity-building efforts, such as those of the CTIHD-CRP, are essential to increase community participation in health research, foster the formation of Community-Academic Partnerships (CAPs), and support the development of research on health disparities in the long-term.