title: Increasing Response Rates on Face-to-Face Surveys with Indigenous Communities in Canada: Lessons from Pictou Landing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Designing an effective survey for gathering primary health data using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in Indigenous communities in Canada has its challenges. Yet, the Pictou Landing First Nation (PFLN) Native Women's Group (NWG) and academic research partners achieved a 59% response rate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To share lessons learned with both campus and community-based research teams engaged in CBPR involving Indigenous communities on the process of team development, and particularly survey development and execution, as well as the factors that led to a reliable and valid household level environmental health survey that achieved a 59% response rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple debriefings conducted over the course of the 12-month data collection period allowed us to modify our protocol to fit with community oscillations.
  Unique aspects of CBPR allowed for the development of a culturally appropriate survey protocol and culturally relevant variables that reflected the concerns of the NWG, and presenting preliminary data to the community also encouraged community buy-in to participate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sharing lessons learned in this project are intended to have positive implications for future CBPR projects wanting to collect primary health survey data involving Indigenous communities.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Castleden
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D009674:Nova Scotia; D015397:Program Evaluation