title: Increasing Community Research Capacity to Address Health Disparities.
abstract: The Community Research Fellows Training program is designed to enhance capacity for community-based participatory research; program participants completed a 15-week, Master of Public Health curriculum. We conducted qualitative, semistructured interviews with 81 participants from two cohorts to evaluate the learning environment and how the program improved participants' knowledge of public health research. Key areas that provided a conducive learning environment included the once-a-week schedule, faculty and participant diversity, and community-focused homework assignments. Participants discussed how the program enhanced their understanding of the research process and raised awareness of public health-related issues for application in their personal lives, professional occupations, and in their communities. These findings highlight key programmatic elements of a successful public health training program for community residents.
authors.affiliation: 1 Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Goldie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Komaie
authors.affiliation: 1 Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Christine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ekenga
authors.affiliation: 1 Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Vetta L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Sanders Thompson
authors.affiliation: 1 Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Melody S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D057191:Capacity Building; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D032882:Comprehension; D003479:Curriculum; D005178:Faculty; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000193:education*; D012111:Residence Characteristics
keywords: academic–community partnership; community-based participatory research; program evaluation; public health training; qualitative methods