Promoting health and preventing disability in older adults: lessons from intervention studies carried out through an academic-community partnership.
This article describes a partnership between an academic center and community-based organizations for the purpose of improving the health of older adults. Three sequential randomized trials of interventions that have been conducted by this partnership, along with an effectiveness study of one of the interventions, are presented as evidence of the partnership's success. Characteristics of an effective partnership are highlighted; these include: (1) a shared vision and a commitment to achieving similar goals; (2) complementary expertise and resources; (3) a willingness to contribute time and effort on projects that are jointly undertaken; (4) regularly scheduled meeting times to review progress and barriers to progress; and (5) time spent getting to know each other on a personal level. The iterative nature of research and programming that is carried out as part of this partnership is described.
Phelan
Elizabeth A
EA
The Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98104, USA.
Cheadle
Allen
A
Schwartz
Sheryl J
SJ
Snyder
Susan
S
Williams
Barbara
B
Wagner
Edward H
EH
LoGerfo
James P
JP
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States