Paper
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Building Bi-National Research Capacity within an International Service Learning Program
Mary E. Riner, DNS, RN, School of Nursing, Environments for Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA, Irma J. Villanueva Cruz, MEd, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo, Mexico, and Rosa Maria Guevara Cabrera, School of Nursing, Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Pachuca, Hgo, Mexico.
| Learning Objective #1: Identify challenges and solutions to bi-national student/faculty research collaboration. |
| Learning Objective #2: Describe how interdisciplinary networking at both universities resulted in an evidence-based initiative to improve diabetes care in a rural community. |
Background: An action research study was conducted by a campus-community partnership between a bi-national university team in the US and Mexico and the Calnali Municipality, Hidalgo, Mexico.
Purpose: To increase the ability of an interdisciplinary bi-national team to respond to health problems of Calnali residents through understanding perceived health needs, causes and potential solutions
Design and Methods: Bi-national nursing students completed human subjects certification tests. A three item survey instrument integrated Kleinman s Explanatory Model (EM) and Rapid Rural Assessment (RRA). The questions were asked in Spanish: What is the major health need of your family? What do you think causes it? What do you think the solution is? A convenience sample was obtained from residents of four communities in Calnali Municipality attending health clinics provided by the bi-national health team. Four bi-national nursing students collected, translated, and analyzed data using verification, cross case and content analysis
Results: Of 756 responses, most frequently cited problems were cold, cough, headache, fever, stomach pain, and diabetes. Families perceive need for primary care services, recognize need to improve self-care habits and for more services for diabetes.
Conclusions: Bi-national action research can be used to address priority needs perceived by community residents to tailor culturally relevant interventions incorporating knowledge of health care systems and self-care practices. Collaboration with bi-national colleagues and communities may improve integration of education, adoption of evidence-based diabetes management into primary care services, and success of research and funding.