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Developing and Using a Partnership Covenant to Guide a Study of Late HIV Diagnosis
- Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 7, Issue 4, Winter 2013
- pp. 403-411
- 10.1353/cpr.2013.0053
- Article
- Additional Information
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Background: Late diagnosis of HIV is an important problem in the United States, particularly in ethnically and socially diverse communities.
Objectives: We created and used a partnership covenant to ensure our adherence to community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles as we began studying and addressing individual and structural barriers to timely HIV testing.
Methods: Sample CBPR principles were used to help develop a partnership covenant that in turn was used in steering committee (SC) meetings to gauge our adherence to CBPR in our work together and in the field.
Results: Continuing dialogue around our fidelity to the covenant resulted in concrete changes including a “crash course” on sampling for community partners and development of a community advisory board (CAB). Our ability to meet the project’s specific aims was enhanced by using the covenant.
Conclusions: Although time consuming, development and use of a CBPR covenant can improve high-level engagement and help to accomplish a study’s specific aims.