Results from the Data & Democracy initiative to enhance community-based organization data and research capacity

Abstract

Objectives: In an era of community-based participatory research and increased expectations for evidence-based practice, we evaluated an initiative designed to increase community-based organizations' data and research capacity through a 3-day train-the-trainer course on community health assessments.

Methods: We employed a mixed method pre-post course evaluation design. Various data sources collected from 171 participants captured individual and organizational characteristics and pre-post course self-efficacy on 19 core skills, as well as behavior change 1 year later among a subsample of participants.

Results: Before the course, participants reported limited previous experience with data and low self-efficacy in basic research skills. Immediately after the course, participants demonstrated statistically significant increases in data and research self-efficacy. The subsample reported application of community assessment skills to their work and increased use of data 1 year later.

Conclusions: Results suggest that an intensive, short-term training program can achieve large immediate gains in data and research self-efficacy in community-based organization staff. In addition, they demonstrate initial evidence of longer-term behavior change related to use of data and research skills to support their community work.

FIGURE 1—

Conceptual model of community-based organization data and research capacity building: Data & Democracy training initiative, University of California, Los Angeles Health DATA (Data. Advocacy. Training. Assistance.) Program. Source. Conceptual model based on Kirkpatrick's hierarchical model of training effectiveness.