title: Using a mixed-methods approach to identify health concerns in an African American community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We used qualitative and quantitative data collection methods to identify the health concerns of African American residents in an urban community and analyzed the extent to which there were consistencies across methods in the concerns identified.
  
  
  METHODS
  We completed 9 focus groups with 51 residents, 27 key informant interviews, and 201 community health surveys with a random sample of community residents to identify the health issues participants considered of greatest importance. We then compared the issues identified through these methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Focus group participants and key informants gave priority to cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but most respondents in the community health survey indicated that sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, and obesity were conditions in need of intervention. How respondents ranked their concerns varied in the qualitative versus the quantitative methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using qualitative and quantitative approaches simultaneously is useful in determining community health concerns. Although quantitative approaches yield concrete evidence of community needs, qualitative approaches provide a context for how these issues can be addressed. Researchers should develop creative ways to address multiple issues that arise when using a mixed-methods approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia, PA, USA. weather@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Benita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weathers
authors.forename: Frances K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Barg
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.forename: Ernestine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delmoor
authors.forename: Shiriki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumanyika
authors.forename: Jerry C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Purnell
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Chanita Hughes
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Halbert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D015143:Philadelphia; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014505:Urban Population; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology