title: Developing and using a partnership covenant to guide a study of late HIV diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Late diagnosis of HIV is an important problem in the United States, particularly in ethnically and socially diverse communities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We created and used a partnership covenant to ensure our adherence to community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles as we began studying and addressing individual and structural barriers to timely HIV testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sample CBPR principles were used to help develop a partnership covenant that in turn was used in steering committee (SC) meetings to gauge our adherence to CBPR in our work together and in the field.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuing dialogue around our fidelity to the covenant resulted in concrete changes including a "crash course" on sampling for community partners and development of a community advisory board (CAB). Our ability to meet the project's specific aims was enhanced by using the covenant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although time consuming, development and use of a CBPR covenant can improve high-level engagement and help to accomplish a study's specific aims.
authors.forename: Ifeoma C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Udoh
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chopel
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Minkler
authors.forename: Carla Dillard
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grijalva
authors.forename: Aminatu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunbar
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors