Powell, D. L. and Gilliss, C. L., Building capacity and competency in conducting health disparities research.,
Nursing outlook, vol. 53 no. 3
(August, 2005),
pp. 107-8, ISSN 0029-6554 [doi]
(last updated on 2011/03/21)
Abstract:
There are differences of intent and impact between short-term and long-term engagement of U.S. academic institutions with communities of need in developing nations. Global health programs that produce long-term transformative change rather than transient relief are more likely to be sustainable and in ethical harmony with expressed needs of a region or community. This article explores characteristics of successful ethical partnerships in global health and the challenges that threaten them, introducing a consensus community engagement model as a framework for building relationships, evolving an understanding of needs, and collaboratively developing solutions and responses to priority health needs in underserved regions of the world. The community engagement model is applied to a case study of an initiative by a U.S. school of nursing to establish long-term relationships with the nursing community in the Caribbean region with the goal of promoting transformative change through collaborative development of programs and services addressing health care needs of the region's growing elderly population and the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases. Progress of this ongoing long-term relationship is analyzed in the context of the organizational, philosophical, ethical, and resource commitments embodied in this approach to initiation of transformative and sustainable improvements in public health.
Keywords:
Consumer Participation • Cooperative Behavior • Ethnic Groups* • Health Services Accessibility* • Health Services Needs and Demand • Health Services Research • Humans • Life Style • Minority Groups* • Nursing • Professional Competence • Research Design • Socioeconomic Factors • organization & administration* • standards • standards* • statistics & numerical data
