TY - JOUR T1 - Testing to Prevent Colon Cancer: How Rural Community Members Took on a Community-Based Intervention JF - The Annals of Family Medicine JO - Ann Fam Med SP - 568 LP - 570 DO - 10.1370/afm.1586 VL - 11 IS - 6 AU - Ned Norman AU - Shirley Cowart AU - Maret Felzien AU - Connie Haynes AU - Mike Hernandez AU - Mary Petra Rodriquez AU - Norah Sanchez AU - Sergio Sanchez AU - Kathy Winkelman AU - Steve Winkelman AU - Rebecca Van Vorst AU - Linda Zittleman AU - John M. Westfall Y1 - 2013/11/01 UR - http://www.annfammed.org/content/11/6/568.abstract N2 - Participatory research can elevate research relevance and effectiveness. The literature contains few first-hand descriptions of community members engaged in research. In 2003, the High Plains Research Network convened a Community Advisory Council (CAC) that quickly began providing input, feedback, innovation, and dissemination efforts. After receiving a participatory research grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention aimed at increasing colorectal cancer screening, the CAC participated in an intensive training on colon cancer prevention and spent 6 months developing a locally relevant intervention—Testing to Prevent Colon Cancer. CAC members participated in all aspects of the research including intervention messaging, survey design, recruitment, implementation, analysis and interpretation of data, and dissemination of results including presentations at national venues and coauthoring manuscripts. Our experience attests to the power of participatory research in efforts to improve health outcomes. ER -