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BMC Medical Research Methodology
Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Correspondence

Establishing the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS): Operationalizing Community-based Research in a Large National Quantitative Study

Authors: Mona Loutfy, Saara Greene, V. Logan Kennedy, Johanna Lewis, Jamie Thomas-Pavanel, Tracey Conway, Alexandra de Pokomandy, Nadia O’Brien, Allison Carter, Wangari Tharao, Valerie Nicholson, Kerrigan Beaver, Danièle Dubuc, Jacqueline Gahagan, Karène Proulx-Boucher, Robert S. Hogg, Angela Kaida, on Behalf of the CHIWOS Research Team

Published in: BMC Medical Research Methodology | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Community-based research has gained increasing recognition in health research over the last two decades. Such participatory research approaches are lauded for their ability to anchor research in lived experiences, ensuring cultural appropriateness, accessing local knowledge, reaching marginalized communities, building capacity, and facilitating research-to-action. While having these positive attributes, the community-based health research literature is predominantly composed of small projects, using qualitative methods, and set within geographically limited communities. Its use in larger health studies, including clinical trials and cohorts, is limited. We present the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS), a large-scale, multi-site, national, longitudinal quantitative study that has operationalized community-based research in all steps of the research process. Successes, challenges and further considerations are offered.

Discussion

Through the integration of community-based research principles, we have been successful in: facilitating a two-year long formative phase for this study; developing a novel survey instrument with national involvement; training 39 Peer Research Associates (PRAs); offering ongoing comprehensive support to PRAs; and engaging in an ongoing iterative community-based research process. Our community-based research approach within CHIWOS demanded that we be cognizant of challenges managing a large national team, inherent power imbalances and challenges with communication, compensation and volunteering considerations, and extensive delays in institutional processes. It is important to consider the iterative nature of community-based research and to work through tensions that emerge given the diverse perspectives of numerous team members.

Conclusions

Community-based research, as an approach to large-scale quantitative health research projects, is an increasingly viable methodological option. Community-based research has several advantages that go hand-in-hand with its obstacles. We offer guidance on implementing this approach, such that the process can be better planned and result in success.
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Metadata
Title
Establishing the Canadian HIV Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS): Operationalizing Community-based Research in a Large National Quantitative Study
Authors
Mona Loutfy
Saara Greene
V. Logan Kennedy
Johanna Lewis
Jamie Thomas-Pavanel
Tracey Conway
Alexandra de Pokomandy
Nadia O’Brien
Allison Carter
Wangari Tharao
Valerie Nicholson
Kerrigan Beaver
Danièle Dubuc
Jacqueline Gahagan
Karène Proulx-Boucher
Robert S. Hogg
Angela Kaida
on Behalf of the CHIWOS Research Team
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Research Methodology / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2288
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-016-0190-7

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