Evaluation of Community–Academic Partnership Functioning: Center for the Elimination of Hepatitis B Health Disparities

What Is the Purpose of This Study?

• • To conduct a process evaluation using surveys and interviews of the B Free CEED partnership coalition, a community–academic partnership created to address hepatitis health disparities in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

What Is the Problem?

• • Community–academic partnerships need to be assessed using process evaluations to ensure that they are equitable and adhering to the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR).

• • Evaluating partnership functioning is related to achieving intermediate and long-term program goals.

What Are the Findings?

• • Survey findings showed stability over time, with some consistent differences in community and academic perspectives.

• • Academic partners were somewhat more satisfied with the partnership than community partners.

• • Key informant interviews provided important contextual information that helped to further define the nature of the partnership functioning and provide information to develop strategies to address problems or challenges.

Who Should Care the Most?

• • Organizations involved in community–academic partnerships.

• • Partner members in CBPR projects.

• • Evaluators of CBPR projects.

Recommendations for Action

• • Conduct ongoing partnership evaluations to reassess and align processes and protocols to enhance partnership functioning and strengthen group cohesion.

• • Develop clear, standard, written guidelines and protocols to guide coalition functioning and decision-making processes.

• • Review and affirm role responsibilities and partner accountability on an ongoing basis.

• • Review and affirm a shared vision or mission and program priorities on an ongoing basis to ensure greater alignment of partner interests and commitment.