A Community-driven Research Framework: Integrating Promotores as Co-Researchers

Abstract:Background: Integration of community health workers/promotores in community-based participatory research is an efficient strategy to advance research and health initiatives. We build on the principles of the interactive and contextual model of community–university collaboration for research and action, the public health critical race framework, and the situated learning theory to propose the community-driven research framework for the development of culturally appropriate research methods training and integration of promotores as co-researchers.Objectives: To present the community-driven research framework as a model that trains and integrates promotores in research methodologies.Application of the Community-Driven Research Framework: By showcasing three case studies (March 2019 to December 2021) we describe the promotores' levels of involvement through the various research stages highlighting the effectiveness of the community-driven research framework.Conclusions: The community-driven research framework fills a gap in the literature by providing a process through which researchers can engage in a culturally relevant learning process that allows entry to the community, fostering trust, and initiating a mutual collaboration that is embedded within the local context and needs of the community. The implementation of the community-driven research framework has implications for the development of culturally sensitive community partnerships as well as for designing research that is centered around the cultural and social context of the community.