• Ned Norman, Shirley Cowart, Maret Felzien, Connie Haynes, Mike Hernandez, Mary Petra Rodriquez, Norah Sanchez, Sergio Sanchez, Kathy Winkelman, Steve Winkelman, Rebecca Van Vorst, Linda Zittleman, and John M Westfall.
• High Plains Research Network Community Advisory Council, Denver, Colorado.
• Ann Fam Med. 2013 Nov 1; 11 (6): 568-70.

AbstractParticipatory research can elevate research relevance and effectiveness. The literature contains few first-hand descriptions of community members engaged in research. In 2003, the High Plains Research Network convened a Community Advisory Council (CAC) that quickly began providing input, feedback, innovation, and dissemination efforts. After receiving a participatory research grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aimed at increasing colorectal cancer screening, the CAC participated in an intensive training on colon cancer prevention and spent 6 months developing a locally relevant intervention-Testing to Prevent Colon Cancer. CAC members participated in all aspects of the research including intervention messaging, survey design, recruitment, implementation, analysis and interpretation of data, and dissemination of results including presentations at national venues and coauthoring manuscripts. Our experience attests to the power of participatory research in efforts to improve health outcomes.

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