The first year of Active for Life demonstrated that Active Choices and Active Living Every Day, 2 evidence-based physical activity programs, can be successfully translated into community settings with diverse populations. Further, the magnitudes of change in outcomes were similar to those reported in the efficacy trials.

PURPOSE Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) are increasingly seen as important vehicles to translate research into practice, although less is known about the process of engaging diverse communities in PBRN research. The objective of this study was to identify strategies for successfully recruiting and retaining diverse racial/ethnic communities into PBRN research studies.METHODS This collaborative, multisite study engaged 5 of the 8 networks of the PRImary care MultiEthnic Network (PRIME Net) consortium that conducts research with traditionally underrepresented/underserved populations. We used a sequential, qualitative research design. We first conducted 1 key informant interview with each of 24 researchers experienced in recruiting research participants from 5 racial/ethnic communities (African American, Arab/Chaldean, Chinese, Hispanic, and Native American). Subsequently, we conducted 18 focus groups with 172 persons from these communities.RESULTS Participants' comments indicated that successful recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in PBRN studies is linked to the overall research process. This process, which we termed the cycle of trust, entailed developing and sustaining relationships of trust during 4 interrelated stages: before the study, during study recruitment, throughout study conduct, and after study completion. Participants identified a set of flexible strategies within each stage and called for close engagement with clinic and community partners.CONCLUSIONS Our participants suggest that approaches to research that lay a foundation of trust, demonstrate respect for community members, and extend beyond the enrollment and data collection phases are essential to enhance the participation of diverse populations in PBRN research. These findings offer the PBRN community a guide toward achieving this important goal. 2013;550-558. doi:10.1370/afm.1543. Ann Fam Med INTRODUCTIONN ational leaders in the United States are insisting on more rapid translation of research into practice, greater applicability of research to everyday practice, and inclusion of diverse populations in the research effort. With regard to the last, diverse populations are consistently underrepresented in clinical research studies. [1][2][3][4] Although practice-based research networks (PBRNs) have drawn attention as mechanisms to facilitate the goals of speeding translation of research into practice, less is known about the process of engaging diverse communities in PBRN research.PBRNs have a long history of working with primary care clinicians to generate research ideas and facilitate study recruitment, 5 and have also sought to engage, though to a lesser degree, patients and community members in the research process. 6 They are well positioned to access diverse patient populations and contexts. 7 Despite this potential, we are not aware of any systematic examinations of how PBRNs engage a wide range of racial/ethnic groups in the research enterprise.Failure to recruit and enroll diverse racial/ethnic g...

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Objective-To describe the perceptions of a United States cohort of experienced birth doulas who were among the first in the country to be trained to provide postpartum support.Design-A qualitative, longitudinal study using ethnographic methods; participant observation and semi-structured interviews.Setting-Midwestern, urban, US; postpartum homecare over three months Participants-Four postpartum doulas; 13 familiesMeasurements-Participant observation during six postpartum home visits per family; thirteen semi-structured interviews with doulas at the completion of each family's care; four summative interviews with doulas at the end of the study.Findings-When describing their postpartum practice, four themes emerged: supporting women, taking the mother's perspective, empowering women, and empowering families. When speaking