Evaluating community engagement efforts in a clinical and translational research initiative

TL;DR

This paper evaluates how well a research network built strong community partnerships through surveys and network science.

Contribution

The study introduces a validated survey platform based on network science to track and map community research collaborations over time.

Findings

A high level of trust was reported among community partners.

Perceived value of the collaborations was modest compared to published benchmarks.

Survey results will guide improvements as the network evolves.

Abstract

A priority of the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research (NNE-CTR) Network is conducting, promoting, and advancing community-engaged research through its Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO) Core. We sought to measure the CEO Core’s success in strengthening community-level research partnerships using a validated survey platform based on network science to map and track collaborations over time. The survey was completed by 59/76 organizations (77.6% response rate). Key findings included a high level of trust and a modest level of perceived value relative to published benchmarks. Additional specific findings will inform opportunities to improve the network as the NNE-CTR matures.

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