Boot Camp Translation: A Method For Building a Community of Solution

Abstract

Objective The National Institutes of Health (NIH) spend billions of dollars annually on biomedical research. A crucial, yet currently insufficient step is the translation of scientific evidence-based guidelines and recommendations into constructs and language accessible to every-day patients and community members. By building a community of solution that integrates primary care with public health and community-based organizations, evidence-based medical care can be translated into language and constructs accessible to community members and readily implemented to improve health. Methods Using a community-based participatory research approach, the High Plains Research Network (HPRN) and its Community Advisory Council developed a multi-component process to translate evidence into messages and dissemination methods to improve health in rural Colorado. This process, called Boot Camp Translation has brought together various community members, organizations, and primary care to build a community of solution to address local health problems. Results The HPRN has conducted 4 Boot Camp Translations on topics including colon cancer prevention, asthma diagnosis and management, hypertension treatment and management, and the patient-centered medical home. Each Boot Camp follows a standard agenda that requires flexibility and creativity. Thus far, the HPRN has used Boot Camp Translation to engage over a thousand rural community members and providers. Dissemination of Boot Camp messaging through the community of solution has led to increased colon cancer screening, improved care for asthma, and increased rates of controlled blood pressure. Conclusions Boot Camp translation successfully engages community members in a process to translate evidence-based medical care into locally relevant, culturally appropriate language and constructs. Boot Camp Translation is an appropriate method for engaging community members in patient-centered outcomes research. Boot Camp Translation may be an appropriate first step in building a local or regional community of solution aimed at improving health of the community.

Health Extension and Clinical and Translational Science: An Innovative Strategy for Community Engagement

“…Bootcamp translation takes evidence-based clinical practice guidelines and trains community stakeholders to become health topic experts who then work with the research team to 1) develop culturally and contextually relevant messaging, 2) identify ways to disseminate those messages, and 3) change local and community conversations about the health topic through their active participation in the bootcamp translation process. 3 The Health Extension program is another strategy that could be effective in the research translation process. These strategies and others designed to increase clinical and translational research in community populations will invariably involve local primary care practices more in research; they are often the community's principal connection to the entire health care system.…”

Translating the medical home into patient-centred language

“…of the BCT was published by Norman et al 14 The principles and benefits of this community-engagement strategy are similar to several experienced in community development efforts, as described by Fisher. 15 The information and data for this study were obtained using the BCT process.…”

Is knowledge translation without patient or community engagement flawed?

“…There are patients/individuals and communities that are familiar with research methods and are knowledgeable about the various aspects of the research continuum. However, for this to become a universally accepted process, training and educational opportunities are essential and may include engagement methods such as Boot Camp Translation, developed and tested by patient and community members in the High Plains Research Network (20) …”