Refining the research infrastructure at community health centers

Background: Community health centers (CHC) often partner with academics to conduct community-based participatory research (CBPR). Because of their research expertise, academic partners are usually the principal investigators (PIs); however, moving the home base of research to the community can prove beneficial to the CHC and its community. Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to discuss the lessons learned after conducting a CBPR project and to share identified solutions. Methods: A longitudinal perinatal risk reduction intervention study was conducted with primiparous Native Hawaiian women receiving prenatal care at a CHC. The intervention incorporated home visiting, social support, and lactation management. Results: Primary lessons learned from this participatory process can be grouped into infrastructure, human resources, and recruitment. Conclusions: Sharing lessons learned can serve to expand a CHC's involvement in research, and provide a venue for discovering innovative and viable community and practice based approaches to solving health disparity challenges.