Community-Based Research Partnerships: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Studying and Addressing Urban Immigrant Restaurant Worker Health and Safety in San Francisco’s Chinatown District: A CBPR Case Study

“…45 It also involves many challenges, from the substantial time and labor involved to the compromises that must sometimes be reached over research design and other key aspects of the work. 18,36,37,39 As suggested above, these challenges may be intensified when immigrant community partners, often with limited English skills and severe time and income constraints, are involved as key partners. Yet as illustrated through the Chinatown study described above, the potential benefits of CBPR may well outweigh the limitations involved.…”

“…Frank conversations about how to balance and accommodate the need for strong science with the equally important need for action, and balancing "stories and statistics" for maximum policy impact, also should be part of such communications. 18,39,45 In data collection and analysis, as well as dissemination and use of findings, primary attention should be paid to issues of greatest relevance to urban immigrant and other community partners. In the Chinatown study, although data were collected on problems such as slips and falls which also were of concern to workers, "wage theft" was by far the topic of greatest local importance, and many questions therefore were added in this area.…”

“…3,[15][16][17][18] Briefly, these include: (1) helping ensure that the research question comes from, or is of genuine importance to, the local community; (2) increasing trust and credibility with the community, which can in turn improve participation in research; (3) enhancing the cultural acceptability of study instruments, often improving their validity; (4) improving the design and implementation of interventions, increasing the likelihood of success; (5) improving data interpretation; (6) identifying and using new channels for dissemination; (7) helping translate the findings into action that will benefit the community; and (8) building individual and community capacity and leaving behind a community better able to study and address other health and social issues of local concern. Each of these is illustrated in the case study below.…”

“…Building and maintaining partnerships take substantial time and resources both early on and throughout the research and action process. 18,36,37 This often is compounded when partnering with immigrant workers who frequently work long hours and return home to serve as primary caregivers across generations. Major time and financial investments in professional, highquality language access services (interpretation at meetings and translation of documents ahead of time) are essential, and relying on bilingual communitybased organization partners to meet these needs limits their own ability to participate in the process.…”

“…24 Conversely, findings may emerge which could cast the community in an unfavorable light which community partners do not want to have "go public". 41 As others have described, 18,24,[42][43][44] continued dialogue and MOUs may be helpful in anticipating such "what ifs" and deciding on ways to deal with them early on. Such methods are not likely to preclude all unanticipated issues from arising which require the utmost care as they are addressed.…”