What Makes or Breaks Provider-Researcher Collaborations in HIV Research? A Mixed-Method Analysis of Providers' Willingness to Collaborate

Purpose: Prior experience in research collaboration improves providers' use of research in practice; nevertheless, little is known about what factors influence HIV providers to collaborate. To narrow this gap, the “Working Together” Conference was organized at the HIV Center, NYC. 113 providers and administrators from Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) attended. They identified research priorities, including the systematization of factors that influence their collaboration with researchers. Adhering to Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) principles, this study was conducted in response to this recommendation. Six providers were recruited as experts to oversee the study. This NIMH-funded study aimed to identify factors that influence providers' engagement in collaboration and examine relationships between these factors and willingness to collaborate. Methods: Theory of Balance and Coordination (Litwak et al., 1977) suggests that providers and researchers come together to integrate complementary knowledge and skills. Grounded in this theory, a mixed-method study was developed. All procedures and methods were developed in collaboration with providers: refining interview protocols, and coding, analysis, and interpretation of data. To identify influences on collaboration, in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants. A hierarchical regression followed to examine relationships between influences and providers' willingness to collaborate. Providers used a 5-point Likert-type scale to gauge willingness to collaborate and 6-point Likert-type scales to express opinions about researchers' availability, research benefits, and CBO preparedness to collaborate. Survey questions were aggregated into composites – Cronbach's alphas 0.60 to 0.73. Participants were recruited from 25 CBOs in NYC. Twenty informants provided interviews and 141 providers completed surveys: 50 (35.5%) African Americans; 36 (25.5%) White; 33 (23.5%) Hispanics/Latinos; and 22 (15.5%) “others.” Education: 49 (35%) masters; 41 (29%) bachelors; 20 (14%) associate; and 31 (22%) high school. Occupations: 43 (31%) supervisors; 39 (28%) counselors; 24 (16%) case/managers; 21 (15%) training/coordinators; and 14 (10%) health/educators. Results: Relying on provider's expertise and using an iterative process for data analysis and interpretation increased confidence in results. Interviews revealed domains of influences: researchers' availability, research benefits and CBO preparedness for research. Hierarchical regression showed that gender (p < .01), researchers' availability (p < .05), research benefits (p < .001) and CBO preparedness (p < .05) were significantly related to collaboration. Global F test (F = 5.36) was significant (p = < 0.0001); R2 = 0.22 (adjusted = 0.18); model SE = 0.82. Implications: Researchers need: to be available to providers; display appropriate manners and provide training; tailor research to improving providers' knowledge and CBO services. Policy makers should help CBOs develop human resources and funding for research. Future research with larger samples is recommended to explain differences between different types of providers. Provider-partners lent credibility and relevance to this project by committing to oversee the methods and procedures and to use the findings to guide their own practices around research