Evaluating a community-based participatory research project for elderly mental healthcare in rural America

Dean Blevins^1,2,3, Bridget Morton⁴, Rene McGovern^5,6

¹South Central Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (SC-MIRECC), Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System; ²University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; ³University of Phoenix, Little Rock Campus, Little Rock, AR; ⁴Northeast Missouri Health Network, Kirksville, MO; ⁵A.T. Still University/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO; ⁶Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH

Abstract: The purpose of this evaluation was to explore the collaborative nature of partners in a rural mental health program for the elderly, and to test an adapted method of assessing the collaborative process. Sixteen collaborative partners were interviewed to explore ratings of collaboration across 6 domains identified as critical to participatory research. Results indicate that the context of rural Missouri and uniqueness of the program necessitated an approach to collaboration that began with a top-down approach, but greater community responsibility developed over time. Partners recognized the efforts of the program’s directors to seek input. Most were satisfied with their roles and the degree of success achieved by the program, although several wanted to have more input in the future in some domains, but not in others. Interviews revealed numerous barriers to achieving sustainability. Methods to improve the assessment of collaboration are discussed and areas for improvement are offered.

Keywords: community-based participatory research, elderly, mental health, older adults, rural