Feasibility of Adolescents to Conduct Community‐Based Participatory Research on Obesity and Diabetes in Rural Appalachia

Abstract

Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) has been advocated to translate advances in health care sciences to the community. We describe a novel approach applied to obesity management and diabetes prevention. This takes advantage of a network of science clubs organized by the Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) for extracurricular activity of disadvantaged high school students in rural Appalachia. Physician scientists and educators provided an intensive summer course on CBPR, ethics, and study design on obesity management and diabetes prevention. Ethical certification for CBPR investigation was obtained for 210 students and 18 mentors for a study on the prevalence of obesity and Type II diabetes within their community. Over a 6-month period, 989 had a collection of complete analyzable data, of which 103 had diabetes. The proportion with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) was over 50%. The frequency of diabetes was related to increasing BMI. When BMI ≥ 40, the frequency approached 50%, and exhibited a clear familial distribution. We conclude that trained adolescents can effectively conduct CBPR, and obesity and diabetes are more prevalent than previously reported in this community. This experience provides encouragement to conduct future studies to influence weight management from high-risk populations in this medically disadvantaged community.

Youth as Partners, Participants or Passive Recipients: A Review of Children and Adolescents in Community‐Based Participatory Research (CBPR)

“…Whereas the content areas represented by the CBPR with youth studies varied considerably, the methods and research design strategies utilized in these projects were even more diverse. Several studies worked with youth to develop and administer assessment tools typical to traditional research, like surveys (e.g., Perry and Hoffman 2010;Veinot et al 2006) and anthropomorphic measures (e.g., Bardwell et al 2009). Many other studies utilized methods popularized by CBPR practitioners, like Photovoice (e.g., Foster-Fishman et al 2010;Necheles et al 2007) and the multi-method ''Mosaic'' approach (e.g., Clark 2010).…”

A Novel Approach to Adolescent Obesity in Rural Appalachia of West Virginia: Educating Adolescents as Family Health Coaches and Research Investigators

“…Geographic location of study participants. (Bardwell et al, 2009) The students have been successful in enrolling an even distribution of family members over a wide range of 8-80 years old. The results were appalling and worse than anticipated from other studies.…”

“…(Bardwell et al, 2009) These individuals have responded extremely quickly and effectively to mentoring and training in CBPR from the University of Pittsburgh team and defining the potential in the community for this new career track. Our CRA network consists of a veteran leader, and the three CRAs, who report to her, live in the community and act as science educator liaisons between the clubs and scientists.…”

“…Now present in 26 counties in WV, approximately eight hundred (800) 9th-12th grade underrepresented students per year are participating, in an after-school science club network of 79 science clubs. (Bardwell et al, 2009) It focuses on preparing students for the health sciences, and bringing healthcare information and healthcare professionals to the medically underserved communities of West Virginia. Student selection is based on local community nomination.…”

Taking a Look at the Heath Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA):Student-Research Partnership Increases Survey Size, Hands-on STEM Learning, and Research-Community Connections

“…What is HSTA? HSTA is a community-owned, community-run program that prepares underrepresented West Virginia high school students to pursue higher education and earn degrees in the health sciences and other STEM majors, thereby increasing the number of health practitioners and advocates in the medically underserved communities of the state (McKendall et al, 2014;Rye and Chester, 1999;Bardwell et al, 2009). Since it was founded in 1994, HSTA has grown from a nine-club program attended by 44 students and housed in two West Virginia counties into one that en-compasses 26 of the West Virginia's 55 counties, includes 80 clubs, and serves 800 students per year.…”