Building interdisciplinary/intersectoral research partnerships for community-based mental health research with older minority adults.
Community-based research often brings investigators from different disciplinary backgrounds together with community representatives to conduct research on topics of mutual concern. This paper describes a case example that illustrates an interdisciplinary/intersectoral study of depression and barriers to mental health care among older adults and illustrate the factors central to implementing a successful research partnership. It will address the following conditions that facilitate and challenge interdisciplinary/intersectoral research: (1) achieving commonality of purpose in study design and research and referral approaches; (2) ensuring the ability to develop, field-test and implement psychometrically rigorous and culturally and qualitatively appropriate instruments; (3) building effective management structures for interdisciplinary/intersectoral research partnerships; and (4) identifying, training and supporting qualified researchers to carry out a mental health study with older ethnically diverse adults. The paper concludes with strengths and limitations of the approach.
Schensul
Jean J
JJ
Institute for Community Research, Hartford Square West, 100 Hartford, Hartford, CT 06106, USA. jean.schensul@icrweb.org
Robison
Julie
J
Reyes
Carmen
C
Radda
Kim
K
Gaztambide
Sonia
S
Disch
William
W
D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003256:Community Participation; D003237:Connecticut; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D011593:Psychology, Social