Rethinking the Way We Do Research: The Benefits of Community-Engaged, Citizen Science Approaches and Nontraditional Collaborators

Using community engagement with FRAME: Framework for reporting adaptations and modifications to evidence-based interventions

Community engagement is increasingly considered a key component of intervention development, as it can leverage community members' knowledge, experiences, and insights to create a nuanced intervention which meets the needs, preferences, and realities of the population of interest. Community engagement exists along a spectrum from outreach to the community to partnership with community members and organizations, and all levels of community engagement can benefit from systematic documentation of community feedback and decision-making processes. This paper demonstrates how we utilized the "Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Interventions" (FRAME; Wiltsey Stirman et al., 2019) model to track and report adaptations to our dementia end-of-life care planning intervention based on community engagement via a project-specific Community Advisory Board (CAB). Using FRAME, we generated a comprehensive report of the iterative changes made to our pilot intervention, including whether the change was planned, who made the decision to modify the intervention, the nature of the change, its relationship to intervention fidelity, and the reason for the change. This process ensured that we effectively integrated feedback and assistance from our CAB, increased the appropriateness of our intervention for our population of interest, established criteria to monitor intervention fidelity, and prepared our team to run a rigorous clinical trial of the revised intervention. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05909189.

The Promise and Challenges of Integrating Biological and Prevention Sciences: A Community-Engaged Model for the Next Generation of Translational Research

Beginning with the successful sequencing of the human genome two decades ago, the possibility of developing personalized health interventions based on one's biology has captured the imagination of researchers, medical providers, and individuals seeking health care services. However, the application of a personalized medicine approach to emotional and behavioral health has lagged behind the development of personalized approaches for physical health conditions. There is potential value in developing improved methods for integrating biological science with prevention science to identify risk and protective mechanisms that have biological underpinnings, and then applying that knowledge to inform prevention and intervention services for emotional and behavioral health. This report represents the work of a task force appointed by the Board of the Society for Prevention Research to explore challenges and recommendations for the integration of biological and prevention sciences. We present the state of the science and barriers to progress in integrating the two approaches, followed by recommended strategies that would promote the responsible integration of biological and prevention sciences. Recommendations are grounded in Community-Based Participatory Research approaches, with the goal of centering equity in future research aimed at integrating the two disciplines to ultimately improve the well-being of those who have disproportionately experienced or are at risk for experiencing emotional and behavioral problems.

Incorporating citizen science engagement in a vector surveillance undergraduate internship

Citizen science is recognized as an important tool to engage the public in important scientific and environmental issues that impact them. Mosquito surveillance-based citizen science in college curricula have not received much attention even though its usage has the potential to actively engage students in inquiry and elevate student support for science. FLAGG (Florida Aedes Genome Group) was a course-based internship where college students engaged in mosquito egg collections, learned about disease transmission, and gained an understanding of data collection in scientific research. This paper reports on a study comparing the outcomes of FLAGG participants with students in other college internships and students who had never done an internship. Findings show that participation in the citizen science mosquito control internship not only increased knowledge and skills in mosquito abatement, but also increased confidence and to a certain extent, sense of engagement, when compared to other groups. These results support the inclusion of citizen science methods in college-based curricula, where benefits extend beyond content learning.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44217-024-00293-6.

Integrating community engagement with implementation science to advance the measurement of translational science

This special communication provides an approach for applying implementation science frameworks to a Clinical and Translational Science Institutes (CTSIs) community engagement (CE) program that measures the use of implementation strategies and outcomes that promote the uptake of CE in research. Using an iterative multi-disciplinary group process, we executed a four-phased approach to developing an evaluation plan: 1) creating an evaluation model adapted from Proctor's conceptual model of implementation research; 2) mapping implementation strategies to CTSI CE program interventions that support change in research practice; 3) identifying and operationalizing measures for each strategy; and 4) conducting an evaluation. Phase 2 employed 73 implementation strategies across 9 domains generated by the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change project. The nine domains were used to classify each CE program implementation strategy. In Phase 3, the group used the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to define measures for each individual strategy. Phase 4 demonstrates the application of this framework and measures Year 1 outcomes for the strategy providing interactive assistance, which we implemented using a centralized consultation model. This approach can support the CTSA program in operationalizing CE program measurement to demonstrate which activities and strategies may lead to benefits derived by the program, institution, and community.

Assessing open science and citizen science in addictions and substance use research: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

The EU promotes 'Open Science' as a public good. Complementary to its implementation is Citizen Science, which redefines the relationship between the scientific community, civic society and the individual. Open Science and Citizen Science poses challenges for the substance use and addictions research community but may provide positive opportunities for future European addiction research. This paper explores both current barriers and potential facilitators for the implementation of Open Science and Citizen Science in substance use and addictions research.

METHODOLOGY

A scoping review was used to examine barriers and facilitators identified in the substance use and addiction research literature for the adoption of Open Science and Citizen Science.

RESULTS

'Technical' facilitators included the pre-registration of study protocols; publication of open-source datasets; open peer review and online tools. 'Motivational' facilitators included enhanced reputation; embracing co-creation; engaged citizenship and gamification. 'Economic' facilitators included the use of free tools and balanced remuneration of crowdworkers. 'Political' facilitators included better informed debates through the 'triple helix' approach and trust-generating transparency. 'Legal' facilitators included epidemiologically informed law enforcement; better policy surveillance and the validation of other datasets. 'Ethical' facilitators included the 'democratisation of science' and opportunities to explore new concepts of ethics in addiction research.

CONCLUSION

Open Science and Citizen Science in substance use and addictions research may provide a range of benefits in relation to the democratisation of science; transparency; efficiency and the reliability/validity of data. However, its implementation raises a range of research integrity and ethical issues that need be considered. These include issues related to participant recruitment; privacy; confidentiality; security; cost and industry involvement. Progressive journal policies to support Open Science practices; a shift in researcher norms; the use of free tools and the greater availability of methodological and ethical standards are likely to increase adoption in the field.

A Scoping Review of the Health Benefits of Nature-Based Physical Activity

The health benefits of physical activity and spending time in nature are well established. However, youths and adults in the United States are not participating in sufficient levels of physical activity and are not spending much time outdoors. Recently, the need for equitable access to nature for all populations has been receiving more public health attention, though a specific focus on nature-based physical activity has been limited. The purpose of this scoping review is to operationalize the health benefits of nature-based physical activity in order to provide guidance for collaborations to program administrators, advocates, and researchers. Peer-reviewed literature is found in PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar as well as in published reviews of the literature. The literature is divided into three categories of: 1) amount and location of nature-based components and physical activity; 2) added health benefits of exposure to nature-based components and physical activity; and 3) nature-based components and physical activity effect on non-white, marginalized, and vulnerable populations. This review supports and encourages multiple strategies to increase nature-based physical activity as this provides even greater benefit to health and wellness than exposure to nature or physical activity alone. Although many of the physical and mental health benefits of nature and physical activity are well established, additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between exposure to nature and nature-based physical activity, which will require greater investment and support from funding agencies.

Cannabis use in college: Genetic predispositions, peers, and activity participation

BACKGROUND

Among adult college students in the US, cannabis use is common and associated with considerable negative consequences to health, cognition, and academic functioning, underscoring the importance of identifying risk and protective factors. Cannabis use is influenced by genetic factors, but genetic risk is not determinative. Accordingly, it is critical to identify environments that reduce risk among those who are at elevated genetic risk. This study examined the impact of polygenic scores for cannabis initiation, various forms of social activity participation, and peer deviance on recent cannabis use. Our aim was to test whether these environments moderate genetic risk for cannabis use.

METHODS

Data came from a longitudinal sample of undergraduate college students of European American (EA; NEA = 750) and African American (AA; NAA = 405) ancestry. Generalized estimating equations with a logit link function were used to examine main effects and two-way interactions.

RESULTS

Engagement with church activities was associated with lower probability of cannabis use. Peer deviance was associated with higher probability of cannabis use. Engagement with community activities moderated the influence of the polygenic risk score in the EA sample, such that PRS was associated with recent cannabis use among those who never engaged in community activities. This effect did not replicate in AAs, which may have been due to the portability of PRS based on EA discovery samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that community activities may limit the influence of genetic risk, as associations between PRS and cannabis use were only observed among individuals who never engaged in community activities.

Sex-specific risk profiles for substance use among college students

INTRODUCTION

Growing evidence indicates sex and gender differences exist in substance use. Framed by a lifecourse perspective, we explored prospectively by sex the effects of distal and proximal factors on the initiation of drug use in college.

METHODS

College students without prior drug use (n = 5,120 females; n = 2,951 males) were followed longitudinally across 4 years. Analyses were estimated as a multigroup survival analysis separately by sex within a latent variable SEM framework with illicit drug use (6 or more times in past year) as the latent factor.

RESULTS

More males initiated drug use (8.5%) than females (6.4%, χ2 (1) = 10.351, p = .001), but less so for Black males (AOR 0.33, 95% CI [0.18, 0.60]) and females (0.35 [0.23, 0.54]). Students initiating drug use more likely included students smoking cigarettes at baseline (males 1.40 [1.23, 1.59]; females 1.43 [1.24, 1.64]), using alcohol (males 1.04 [1.02, 1.06]; females 1.04 [1.02, 1.06]), or having cannabis using peers (males 1.79 [1.52, 2.11]; females 1.70 [1.49, 1.93]). Impulsivity domain associations differed by sex [negative urgency: females (1.23 [1.02, 1.49) and sensation seeking: males (1.33 [1.01, 1.75])]. History of unwanted/uncomfortable sexual experience predicted drug use for males (1.60 [1.09, 2.35]) and females (1.95 [1.45, 2.62]) but physical assault only for females (1.45 [1.08, 1.94]). Mood symptoms predicted drug use only for males [depression (0.73 [0.56, 0.95]); anxiety (1.40 [1.04, 1.89])].

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors for initiating drug use during college differ by sex. As substance use during early age predisposes one for addiction, sex- and gender-informed interventions for young adults are needed.

Research data management in health and biomedical citizen science: practices and prospects

Background

Public engagement in health and biomedical research is being influenced by the paradigm of citizen science. However, conventional health and biomedical research relies on sophisticated research data management tools and methods. Considering these, what contribution can citizen science make in this field of research? How can it follow research protocols and produce reliable results?

Objective

The aim of this article is to analyze research data management practices in existing biomedical citizen science studies, so as to provide insights for members of the public and of the research community considering this approach to research.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted on this topic to determine data management characteristics of health and bio medical citizen science research. From this review and related web searching, we chose five online platforms and a specific research project associated with each, to understand their research data management approaches and enablers.

Results

Health and biomedical citizen science platforms and projects are diverse in terms of types of work with data and data management activities that in themselves may have scientific merit. However, consistent approaches in the use of research data management models or practices seem lacking, or at least are not prevalent in the review.

Conclusions

There is potential for important data collection and analysis activities to be opaque or irreproducible in health and biomedical citizen science initiatives without the implementation of a research data management model that is transparent and accessible to team members and to external audiences. This situation might be improved with participatory development of standards that can be applied to diverse projects and platforms, across the research data life cycle.

Community-Engaged Research: Exploring a Tool for Action and Advocacy

Trauma psychologists seeking to engage in evidence-based advocacy and action may benefit from methods that prioritize public problem solving. Community-engaged research (CEnR) is one such method, characterized by reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnerships between academic researchers and community organizations to address public problems. The CEnR framework is designed and implemented in the context of researcher-community partnership; as such, the findings from this approach promise to be responsive to the real-world concerns of communities seeking to address trauma. This manuscript first articulates the rationale for CEnR in evidence-based advocacy and action. Next, we provide illustrations from our research team's CEnR focus on access to victim service and legal information following interpersonal traumas. We describe how CEnR positioned our team to be responsive in a quickly evolving sociopolitical context while providing data needed for community partners and trauma researchers alike to advocate for survivors and victim services. With this example as a jumping-off point, we discuss potential systemic changes that could foster increased use of CEnR strategies to address trauma-related problems in our communities.

Citizen science to further precision medicine: from vision to implementation

The active involvement of citizen scientists in setting research agendas, partnering with academic investigators to conduct research, analyzing and disseminating results, and implementing learnings from research can improve both processes and outcomes. Adopting a citizen science approach to the practice of precision medicine in clinical care and research will require healthcare providers, researchers, and institutions to address a number of technical, organizational, and citizen scientist collaboration issues. Some changes can be made with relative ease, while others will necessitate cultural shifts, redistribution of power, recommitment to shared goals, and improved communication. This perspective, based on a workshop held at the 2018 AMIA Annual Symposium, identifies current barriers and needed changes to facilitate broad adoption of a citizen science-based approach in healthcare.

Methods for Population Research on Substance Use and Consequences

This chapter reviews the array of methods used in contemporary research on population-level research on substance use and its consequences. We argue that there are critical questions that can best - or in some cases, only - be addressed at the level of a population. We then describe the major categories of data collection methods used in population research, including surveys, ecological momentary assessment, administrative data, audit methods, and unobtrusive assessment of substance use. Two categories of measures are then discussed: measures of an individual's use of substances and related problems and measures of harm to others caused by one's use. We then review factors that may be considered causes or correlates of substance use and consequences, including both individual and environmental factors. We close with a few thoughts on the accumulation of knowledge and its translation to policy and practice.

Public Participation in Air Sampling and Water Quality Test Kit Development to Enable Citizen Science

BACKGROUND

Public participation in environmental data collection is a rapidly growing approach providing opportunity for hands-on public engagement in environmental field studies. This methodology is important when addressing community-identified exposure concerns.

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to establish an academic-community partnership between University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers and local officials and residents of Guernsey County, Ohio, to address their interest in assessing environmental quality near proposed and operating natural gas extraction (NGE) waste sites.

METHODS

A pilot research study was developed using community-based participatory research principles. A community resident was trained to collect air samples. Air was sampled at 10 locations for 63 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Water quality test kits were developed in partnership with local middle and high school teachers.

RESULTS

Community partners were involved throughout the project. VOCs were detected at all locations. Nineteen unique VOCs were detected; one was above the recommended exposure level. Findings were reported back to local officials and community members. Water quality test kits were developed and then piloted in middle school and high school classrooms.

CONCLUSIONS

Academic-community partnerships were instrumental in the identification of sampling locations, obtaining the participation of landowners, and conducting sampling. Measuring the impact of NGE activities on air quality is challenging owing to competing exposures, limited resources, and access to sites. Water quality test kits were found by Guernsey County teachers to be useful tools in the classroom.