title: Perceptions community residents have about partner institutions and clinical research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Engaging community residents to obtain their feedback in conducting clinical research, and including them as leaders in implementing applicable health advances is crucial for success and sustaining large center awards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four adult men and women participated in one of four focus groups. Two groups each (one African American and one Caucasian) were conducted in Baton Rouge and in New Orleans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an effort to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs Louisiana residents have about the Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center concept, four main themes emerged from focus group participants concerning the state's research institutions, and what it means to have these institutions operating under one umbrella to improve the quality of health of its people: (1) academic/research institutions of the State are uniformly widely recognized and held in high regard; (2) increasing awareness of clinical research is a necessity; (3) establishing the LA CaTS Center is an excellent idea; and (4) effective communication including delivery style is crucial to partnerships and especially to the community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Focus group discussions can provide insight into community residents' perceptions, beliefs, motivations, and patterns of behavior for strategically planning for large center awards.
authors.affiliation: The Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Betty M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Katzmarzyk
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Willene P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Kathleen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Cefalu
authors.forename: Donna H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000191:economics; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D055820:New Orleans; D010465:Perception; D011639:Public Opinion; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: partnerships; research