Digital and virtual strategies to advance community stakeholder engagement in research during COVID-19 pandemic

Samuel Byiringiro; Cyd Lacanienta; Roger Clark; Crystal Evans; Sarah Stevens; Melanie Reese; Pamela Ouyang; Mia Terkowitz; Christine Weston; Panagis Galiatsatos; Monica Guerrero Vazquez; Frederick W. Luthardt; Cheryl R. Dennison Himmelfarb

doi:10.1017/cts.2022.457

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science (Jan 2022)

Digital and virtual strategies to advance community stakeholder engagement in research during COVID-19 pandemic

Samuel Byiringiro,
Cyd Lacanienta,
Roger Clark,
Crystal Evans,
Sarah Stevens,
Melanie Reese,
Pamela Ouyang,
Mia Terkowitz,
Christine Weston,
Panagis Galiatsatos,
Monica Guerrero Vazquez,
Frederick W. Luthardt,
Cheryl R. Dennison Himmelfarb

Affiliations

Samuel Byiringiro: ORCiD; Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
Cyd Lacanienta: ORCiD; Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
Roger Clark: Community Research Advisory Council, Baltimore, MD, USA
Crystal Evans: Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
Sarah Stevens: Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
Melanie Reese: Community Research Advisory Council, Baltimore, MD, USA
Pamela Ouyang: Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA Community Research Advisory Council, Baltimore, MD, USA Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Mia Terkowitz: Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
Christine Weston: Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
Panagis Galiatsatos: Community Research Advisory Council, Baltimore, MD, USA Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Health Equity, Baltimore, MD, USA
Monica Guerrero Vazquez: Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA Community Research Advisory Council, Baltimore, MD, USA Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Center for Health and Opportunity for Latinos, Baltimore, MD, USA
Frederick W. Luthardt: Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA Community Research Advisory Council, Baltimore, MD, USA Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Cheryl R. Dennison Himmelfarb: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, USA Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2022.457
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 6

Abstract

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Despite the adversity presented by COVID-19 pandemic, it also pushed for experimenting with innovative strategies for community engagement. The Community Research Advisory Council (C-RAC) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), is an initiative to promote community engagement in research. COVID-19 rendered it impossible for C-RAC to conduct its meetings all of which have historically been in person. We describe the experience of advancing the work of the C-RAC during COVID-19 using digital and virtual strategies. Since March 2020, C-RAC transitioned from in person to virtual meetings. The needs assessment was conducted among C-RAC members, and individualized solutions provided for a successful virtual engagement. The usual working schedule was altered to respond to COVID-19 and promote community engaged research. Attendance to C-RAC meetings before and after the transition to virtual operation increased from 69% to 76% among C-RAC members from the community. In addition, the C-RAC launched new initiatives and in eighteen months since January 2020, it conducted 50 highly rated research reviews for 20 research teams. The experience of the C-RAC demonstrates that when community needs are assessed and addressed, and technical support is provided, digital strategies can lead to greater community collaborations.

Published in Journal of Clinical and Translational Science

ISSN: 2059-8661 (Online)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine
Website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-clinical-and-translational-science

About the journal

Abstract

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