The themes that emerged from this study of the perceptions and experiences of the community partners in community-academic partnerships can be critical to further developing and evolving these partnerships.

We analyzed the adequacy of pain control for 17 trauma patients during the initial part of their stay in the intensive care unit, and assessed reasons for inadequate analgesia, if it occurred. Patients, and physicians, and nurses were interviewed. A verbal pain intensity scale was used to determine whether patients received adequate analgesia. Patients were asked if the pain hindered their activities, and whether they requested pain medication from their caregivers. Caregivers were questioned whether patients received adequate analgesia. Prescribed morphine regimens and the amount of narcotic administered were analyzed. Twenty-seven percent of patients rated pain intensity as moderate and 47% as severe. Ninety-five percent of housestaff and 81% of nurses reported the patients received adequate pain control. Forty-seven percent of the patients who had moderate or severe pain asked their physician for more pain medication, and 65% asked the nurse. Thirteen residents did not order a larger dose of morphine due to concern about respiratory depression or hypotension. Morphine dosages ranged from 1-8 mg intravenously every 1-2 hours as necessary. Nurses administered less than the maximum amount ordered 58% of the time. The mean dosing interval was 2.3 hours. Barriers to adequate pain management were disparity in the perception of pain between patients and caregivers; patients not requesting more analgesia despite despite the presence of moderate to severe pain; and physician and nurse concerns about patients' adverse physiologic response to increased dosages.

The present study assesses barriers to identification and referral of domestic violence (DV) victims by staff at a health care institution following a 3-hr DV training program in which 752 health care providers participated. Focus groups are conducted with staff in hospital departments that serve a high volume of women. Responses to focus group questions identify system-wide and individual hospital department barriers. These barriers have implications for health care organizations trying to implement DV screening protocols through training alone to change staff behavior in diverse clinical settings. Limitations of this study and future research recommendations are also discussed.

Community-based participatory research is a noted approach for improving community health and reducing health disparities. Community partnerships can serve as a catalyst for change in public health efforts. This article will apply empowerment theory and sustainability principles to an existing faith-based partnership. BRANCH Out is a partnership among 13 African American churches, the City of Milwaukee Health Department-Community Nutrition, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The partnership goal was to change inaccurate perceptions, knowledge and negative attitudes, and behaviors about chronic disease and promote healthy youth leadership. Faith-based empowerment can occur at the individual, organizational, and community level. BRANCH Out demonstrates how partnerships can be sustained in multiple ways. The partnership also highlights the unique contributions of churches to community health outcomes.