title: Dissemination of results in community-based participatory research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been promoted as an approach to understanding complex health problems not amenable to research conducted solely by outside investigators. Although broad dissemination of research results is a key element of the CBPR approach, existing dissemination efforts have not been assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this systematic review, researchers evaluated studies utilizing the CBPR approach to characterize dissemination of research results beyond scientific publication. Specifically, the focus was on dissemination to community participants and the general public. The literature search encompassed articles published between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009. Corresponding authors were also invited to complete a web-based survey. Data were collected and analyzed between July 1, 2008, and March 8, 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 101 articles met inclusion criteria. All articles were assessed for the quality of community involvement in research. Scores ranged from 1.4 to 3.0 (on a 3-point scale), with a mean of 2.3. The 21 articles in which an intervention was evaluated were scored for the rigor of research methods. Scores ranged from 2.0 to 2.9 (on a 3-point scale), with a mean of 2.4. Dissemination beyond scientific publication was reported in 48% of publications with varying levels of detail. However, among survey respondents, 98% reported dissemination of results to community participants and 84% reported dissemination to the general public.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among research meeting strict criteria for inclusion as CBPR, dissemination beyond scientific publication is largely occurring. However, myriad challenges to timely and widespread dissemination remain, and current dissemination to community participants and the general public is variable.
authors.affiliation: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. peggy.chen@yale.edu
authors.forename: Peggy G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nitza
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Marjorie S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D011642:Publications