From rhetoric to action: establishing community participation in AIDS-related research

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has been described as the most challenging disease in modern history. For many people with HIV/AIDS (PWA), issues of appropriate respite care and supported housing are a pressing concern. To meet the housing requirements for PWAs, it is essential to engage this community in determining its own housing needs. To that end, a participatory action research (PAR) investigation was undertaken with the PWA community to ascertain the desirability and feasibility of a supported-living/respite-care community home. PAR has been heralded as an important research methodology in ensuring research relevance and community participation leading to effective change. Although nursing interest in PAR is increasing, there are few nursing examples that describe the process of undertaking PAR. The purpose of this article is to describe, explain, and critique the use of PAR in the case of a supported-living/respite-care home. A PAR framework is presented and the process of conducting PAR is outlined.