This article describes how a new regional campus of an academic health center engaged in a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process to set a community-driven research agenda to address health disparities. The campus is situated among growing Marshallese and Hispanic populations that face significant health disparities. In 2013, with support from the Translational Research Institute, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest began building its research capacity in the region with the goal of developing a community-driven research agenda for the campus. While many researchers engage in some form of community-engaged research, using a CBPR process to set the research agenda for an entire campus is unique. Utilizing multiple levels of engagement, three research areas were chosen by the community: 1) chronic disease management and prevention; 2) obesity and physical activity; and 3) access to culturally appropriate healthcare. In only 18 months, the CBPR collaboration had dramatic results. Ten grants and five scholarly articles were collaboratively written and 25 community publications and presentations were disseminated. Nine research projects and health programs were initiated. In addition, many interprofessional educational and service learning objectives were aligned with the community-driven agenda resulting in practical action to address the needs identified.

Structured Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to use a community-based participatory approach to pilot test a family model of diabetes education conducted in participants’ homes with extended family members. Approximately 50% of Marshallese adults have type 2 diabetes, and prior attempts at diabetes education have not been shown effective due in large part to very high attrition. Research Design and Methods The pilot test included six families (27 participants) who took part in a family model of diabetes self-management education (DSME) using an intervention driven pre-test/post-test design with the aim of improving glycemic control as measured by A1C. Questionnaires and additional biometric data were also collected. Researchers systematically documented elements of feasibility using participant observations and research field reports. Results Over three-fourths (78%) of participants were retained in the study. Post-test results indicated a 5% reduction in A1C across all participants and a 7% reduction among those with type 2 diabetes. Feasibility of an in-home model with extended family members was documented, along with observations and recommendation for further DSME adaptations related to blood glucose monitoring, physical activity, nutrition, and medication adherence. Conclusions The information gained from this pilot helps bridge the gap between knowledge of an evidence-based intervention and the actual implementation of the intervention within a unique minority population with especially high rates of type 2 diabetes and significant health disparities. Building on the emerging literature of family models of DSME, this study shows that the family model delivered in the home had high acceptance and that the intervention was more accessible for this hard-to-reach population.

In response to recruitment difficulties experienced by the National Children’s Study, alternatives to the door-to-door recruitment method were pilot tested. This report describes outcomes, successes, and challenges of recruiting women through prenatal care providers in Benton County, Arkansas, USA. Eligible women residing in 14 randomly selected geographic segments were recruited. Data were collected during pregnancy, at birth, and at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months postpartum. Participants were compared to non-enrolled eligible women through birth records. Of 6402 attempts to screen for address eligibility, 468 patients were potentially eligible. Of 221 eligible women approached to participate, 151 (68%) enrolled in the 21-year study. Enrolled women were similar to non-enrolled women in age, marital status, number of prenatal care visits, and gestational age and birth weight of the newborn. Women enrolled from public clinics were more likely to be Hispanic, lower educated, younger and unmarried than those enrolled from private clinics. Sampling geographic areas from historical birth records failed to produce expected equivalent number of births across segments. Enrollment of pregnant women from prenatal care providers was successful.