Journal of Health & Medical Informatics

Health Promotion through a Community-led Participatory Design: Bridging the Gap between Need and Academic Research in African American Communities

Abstract

Anthony U Emekalam*

Whereas many health disparities interventions targeting African Americans (AAs) have been designed and implemented through collaborations between African American (AA) churches and academic institutions using principles of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR), apparent disconnect between needs, resources, socio-cultural and socio-political church factors and research practices of collaborating institutions has hindered identification of best practices. This study investigated a collaborative framework that apportioned responsibilities of program design and implementation solely to church leaders of predominantly AA churches while restricting the collaborating institution to supportive roles. 15 church leaders completed 4 weeks of awareness/sensitization support training and thereafter independently created and implemented health promotion action plans in their churches. Post training evaluations confirmed that church leaders sensitized through pertinent trainings can independently design and implement viable health promotion programs in their churches. Howbeit, further studies are required to validate health impacts on church members and compare outcomes with other collaborative participatory designs.