Study results provide additional information supporting interdisciplinary communication and collaboration education and training among physicians, nurses, and UAPs to support positive patient care outcomes.

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Objective The aim of this study was to explore how a rural African American faith community would address depression within their congregations and the community as a whole. Design and Sample A qualitative, interpretive descriptive methodology was used. The sample included 24 participants representing pastors, parishioners interested in health, and African American men who had experienced symptoms of depression in a community in the Arkansas Delta. Measures The primary data sources for this qualitative research study were focus groups. Results Participants identified three key players in the rural African American faith community who can combat depression: the Church, the Pastor/Clergy, and the Layperson. The roles of each were identified and recommendations for each to address depression disparities in rural African Americans. Conclusions The recommendations can be used to develop faith-based interventions for depression targeting the African American faith community.

The Arkansas Cancer Connection Program is a community-academic partnership between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and nine community-based coalitions designed to address cancer health disparities through community-based participatory research. In 2005, a survey measuring coalition capacity was administered to 51 Cancer Council members to assess training needs and increase coalition capacity. The highest scoring components were leadership and member engagement while the lowest were development and capacity effectiveness. Effectiveness correlated with aspects of coalition capacity. The evaluation identified training needs, which were met by projects leveraging the coalition's strengths to advance community-based participatory research addressing cancer disparities.

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