This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Horowitz, C. R. Articles by Seifer, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Horowitz, C. R. Articles by Seifer, S. Related Collections Health policy and outcome research

(Circulation. 2009;119:2633-2642.)
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.

Key Issues in Outcomes Research

Community-Based Participatory Research From the Margin to the Mainstream

Are Researchers Prepared?

Carol R. Horowitz, MD, MPH; Mimsie Robinson, MA, MPS; Sarena Seifer, MD

From the Department of Health Policy, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (C.R.H.); Bethel Gospel Assembly, Harlem, NY (M.R.); and Community-Campus Partnerships for Health, Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle (S.S.).

Correspondence to Carol R. Horowitz, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029. E-mail carol.horowitz{at}mssm.edu

Despite an increasing arsenal of effective treatments, there are mounting challenges in developing strategies that prevent and control cardiovascular diseases, and that can be sustained and scaled to meet the needs of those most vulnerable to their impact. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an approach to conducting research by equitably partnering researchers and those directly affected by and knowledgeable of the local circumstances that impact health. To inform research design, implementation and dissemination, this approach challenges academic and community partners to invest in team building, share resources, and mutually exchange ideas and expertise. CBPR has led to a deeper understanding of the myriad factors influencing health and illness, a stream of ideas and innovations, and there are expanding opportunities for funding and academic advancement. To maximize the chance that CBPR will lead to tangible, lasting health benefits for communities, researchers will need to balance rigorous research with routine adoption of its conduct in ways that respectfully, productively and equally involve local partners. If successful, lessons learned should inform policy and inspire structural changes in healthcare systems and in communities.

Key Words: community-based participatory research • healthcare disparities • collaboration