title: A community-academic partnership develops a more responsive model to providing depression care to disadvantaged adults in the US.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Socioeconomically disadvantaged adults experience greater healthcare disparities and increased risk of depression compared to higher-income groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To create a depression care model for disadvantaged adults utilizing service agencies, through a community-academic partnership.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using participatory research methods, an organizational needs assessment was performed to ascertain depression care needs, identify barriers to clients receiving treatment, and marshal resources. Interviews and surveys were conducted with community organizational leaders. Focus groups were conducted with clients who used the service agencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interviews and surveys identified barriers including discontinuity of care and unmet basic needs for food, housing, health insurance and transportation. Focus groups enriched the understanding of barriers including lack of motivation to seek depression care, lack of social support and needed resources for the uninsured, underinsured and homeless. The findings were used to develop a depression care model combining depression management with motivational interviewing to evaluate and meet needs, and peer education to motivate and provide support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This partnership facilitated the development of a community-driven intervention that academic researchers acting alone could not realize. To provide depression care to socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals, the intervention must include mitigating solutions to barriers.
authors: University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre, USA.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Dobransky-Fasiska
authors: Mary Patricia
authors: MP
authors: Nowalk
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Cruz
authors: Michelle L
authors: ML
authors: McMurray
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Castillo
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Begley
authors: Pamala
authors: P
authors: Pyle
authors: Harold Alan
authors: HA
authors: Pincus
authors: Charles F
authors: CF
authors: Reynolds
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities