Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries (January 11 - 14, 2007)

Purposes: Researchers often partner with community-based organizations (CBOs) to conduct HIV prevention research and evaluations. But little is known about what makes community partners more or less inclined to engage in such research. This study, funded by the NYC HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, aims to determine what factors make CBO representatives more or less inclined to engage in HIV prevention-related research.

Methods: Sample came from 10 CBOs, each of which had participated in at least 3 research collaborations. These CBOs variously provide HIV-related medical services, outreach, education, and case management. They have as many as 100 staff, dozens of volunteers, and up to ten staff involved in research collaborations at any one time. We recruited two participants per CBO (n = 20) – the Executive Director, and a staff member from a different level of personnel (e.g., program director, prevention worker). A model of collaboration (Hatch, 1993) served as framework to explore CBOs' participation at each stage (from study aims to dissemination) of the research process (behavioral intervention or program evaluation). In an initial interview, participants described their “most successful” collaborations, and explored their CBOs' missions and priorities at each stage of their participation in the research collaboration. In a follow-up interview, they were asked about a “least successful” collaboration, and to compare the two. The follow-up interview served to corroborate participants' perceptions around factors that influenced them to engage or not in HIV prevention research. Qualitative interviews were audio recorded and lasted about 60 minutes. Data were coded independently by three coders following standard procedure for content analysis (data sampling, finding themes, building codes, and interpretation).

Results: Of the 20 participants, 12 were female and six were male. Nine were Caucasian, three African American, four Latino, and two Asian American. Their ages ranged form late 20s to 65 and the mean years on the job was 10 (range, 2-30). We coded at four domains of influence those factors that made participants inclined to engage in HIV prevention research. Individual Domain: projects that allowed participants and CBO staff to: 1) learn about research methods; and 2) develop research skills. Research Domain: 1) having direct influence in the research; 2) being involved in sustainable projects; and 3) the impact of the study (e.g., community-focused health issue). Researcher/Partner Domain: 1) personal caracteristics/habits (e.g., charisma, availability) of the researcher and; 2) characteristics of the institution that they come from (e.g., large and prestigious). Social Domain: 1) being able to develop professional relationships with researchers; 2) resolve social and professional tensions and 3) involve CBO staff in the research.

Implications: This study identified modifiable factors that could contribute to increasing CBO participation in HIV prevention research. To develop meaningful HIV prevention research, researchers should address specific factors that influence CBO participation. Researchers ought to take a holistic approach working with CBOs, and consider those CBOs' interests at different domains of reference.