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The Action Research Process to PLAN, ACT, Observe and Reflect Provides Evidence Based research for Black Catholic Church working with local Pastor or Administrator for Data and ongoing programs

Introduction

My video presentation today is about expanding what "evidence" means for marginalized communities and practices, and redefining professional expertise through dignified collaboration between diverse healthcare practitioners, patients, and communities. I will share how our program uses an action research process to PLAN, ACT, OBSERVE, and REFLECT to better understand the health of the Black Catholic community and develop programs to address their needs. Our approach is biopsychospiritual, meaning that we look at the whole person, including their physical, mental, and spiritual health. We also work with key informants in the community to ensure that our research is relevant and respectful.

Our program is an example of how to conduct evidence-based research that is respectful of people's cultural and spiritual needs and that empowers marginalized groups to take control of their health. I hope that our work will inspire others to develop similar programs in their own communities.

Review

The Action Research process is an iterative cycle that involves four stages: PLAN, ACT, OBSERVE, and REFLECT. In the PLAN iteration, the focus is on identifying a need based on the development of a needs assessment[1]. In this case, the need is to better understand the evidence of the data of the health of the Black Catholic community. The approach is from a biopsychosocial perspective, which measures and assesses the person's health completely, not just from the physical or mental aspects but also their spiritual health[2]. We work with a local pastor to introduce the idea that low-income Black Catholic communities value the church as a trusted source for their health needs, making the program more effective[1]. Key informants in the community are identified to gather data about the needs of the community in mind, body, and spirit, creating a baseline to determine the effectiveness of treatments once they are implemented[1].

In the ACT stage, the focus is on incorporating health aspects to address the problem that often plagues low-income communities, where there is not enough quantitative data to understand the health of the community[1]. The iterative nature of the Action Research process assures that we will revisit the same data again with the community and improve upon it. We collect data and find members in the parish community to become a local committee group to continue the iterative process as we train them and provide services to them to improve the holistic health of the parish[2]. We develop mental and physical health and spiritual health surveys, working with the key informant in the community to develop them with the community itself, as guided by the pastor or administrator who can provide contacts. We also develop health support groups at each parish[3]. The data gathered is relative to the Black Catholic community's physical, mental, and spiritual health, and we go through all the proper ethics procedures to collect data and get the appropriate approval for the Institutional Review Board (IRB) as we are working with a vulnerable population to ensure confidentiality and protection of private health data[4].

In the OBSERVE stage, the focus is on disseminating the information and developing programs based on the data collected. The process begins with observation, where the results are provided on a special community day. The data is displayed in interactive health educational art exhibits to allow the community to interact with the findings in a way that is meaningful to them, with displays and enlarged images, stimulating simulation experiences and designs, and recreated contexts for a dynamic atmosphere to allow spontaneous conversations to emerge[1]. This notion of using images in an exhibition format has been very effective in the distribution of public health information[4]. The exhibit day is critical as we gather data from those who attended about the programs they want, observe which health issues were well received, which they seem very excited to learn about what the data showed about the community's health, and with all this feedback that we gather on this day, we can then reflect and improve the model[1].

Case Study: Action Research in Anytown Black Catholic Parish for Holistic Community Health

(The case study presented is entirely fictional and for illustrative purposes only. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual programs we implemented or circumstances, is purely coincidental)

Introduction

In alignment with the conference theme of "Decolonizing Medicine," this case study presents an evidence-based Action Research model implemented in Anytown Black Catholic Parish, USA. The model is unique in its biopsychospiritual approach, focusing on the mind, body, and spirit, and its participatory nature, involving the church and community at every stage.

Background

The initial data collected from the parish revealed alarming rates of cardiovascular diseases, elevated CHA2DS2-VASc scores, and high blood pressure levels. Tragically, three church members suffered strokes during the data collection period, two of which were fatal. This underscored the urgent need for a targeted health intervention focusing on cardiovascular health.

The Action Research Model

The Action Research model consists of four iterative stages: PLAN, ACT, OBSERVE, and REFLECT.

PLAN: Based on the identified needs, we planned events focusing on cardiovascular health. We aimed to distribute blood pressure machines and train parish members to take regular monthly blood pressure readings. Additionally, we planned to analyze the cardiovascular disease data annually.
ACT: The program was enacted for six months, during which we observed increased community participation in health check-ups.
OBSERVE: We noticed that community members began asking for additional health checks, such as blood sugar levels. While blood pressure readings showed some improvement, they remained higher than desired. We also identified a specific disease that had not been initially considered but was prevalent among the support group members.
REFLECT: Based on these observations, we re-entered the planning cycle to make necessary adjustments.

Aligning with Conference Objectives

Integrative Health: Our biopsychospiritual approach aligns with the conference's focus on integrative health, addressing not just physical but also mental and spiritual well-being.
Evidence-Based Action Research: Our model is grounded in evidence-based research, expanded to include spiritual data, thereby broadening the conventional paradigm.
Community-Based Iterative Process: The iterative nature of Action Research ensures ongoing community engagement. We establish a local health guidance committee and health support groups, which are integral to the model's success.

Discussion:

The Action Research model provides a robust framework for community-based health interventions. It is particularly effective in marginalized communities like the Anytown Black Catholic Parish, where it addresses health in a holistic manner—physically, mentally, and spiritually. The iterative process allows for continuous improvement and adaptation, making it a sustainable and effective model for community health.

Reflection and analysis are critical components of the action-research process, especially when working with local communities to address health concerns. Through ongoing reflection and analysis, we can continually improve the model and tailor it to the specific needs of the community. This process allows us to identify areas that need improvement, adjust our approach, and implement new strategies to better meet the needs of the community[1]. By reflecting on the data collected and the outcomes of the program implementation, we can identify areas of success and areas that need improvement, leading to a more effective and impactful program.

Ongoing educational workshops and health support groups are essential components of the model, as they provide a platform for community members to learn about health-related topics and receive support from others in the community[1]. These workshops and support groups can cover a wide range of topics, from cardiovascular disease to mental health, and can be tailored to the specific needs and interests of the community[5]. By providing ongoing education and support, we can empower community members to take charge of their health and make informed decisions about their well-being.

Continual improvement of the model through feedback and data collection is critical to the success of the program. By collecting data on the program's effectiveness and soliciting feedback from community members, we can identify areas that need improvement and adjust the program accordingly[1]. This feedback can also help us identify new areas of concern that may not have been previously addressed, allowing us to expand the program's scope to meet the community's evolving needs[2]. By continually refining and improving the program, we can ensure that it remains relevant and effective in promoting the health and well-being of the community[5]. In conclusion, the action-research model provides an iterative process for working with local communities to address health concerns. By collecting data on the community's health in their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being and implementing programs through education, art health-based exhibitions, and interactive educational workshops, we can develop an effective model to improve the community's health. Through ongoing reflection and analysis, ongoing educational workshops and health support groups, and continual improvement through feedback and data collection, we can tailor the model to meet the specific needs of the community and promote overall health and well-being.

In conclusion, the Action-Research process of PLAN, ACT, OBSERVE, and REFLECT provides evidence-based research for the Black Catholic Church to work with local pastors or administrators for data collection and ongoing programs. By incorporating a biopsychosocial perspective, the process addresses the holistic health of the community. The OBSERVE stage, which includes interactive health educational art exhibits, allows for dissemination of information and development of programs based on the data collected. Through ongoing educational workshops and health support groups, the model can be continually improved through feedback and data collection. The importance of reflection and analysis ensures that the model remains effective and relevant to the community's needs. Overall, the Action-Research process can be an effective model for working with low-income Black Catholic communities to improve their health outcomes.

Conclusion

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