Aboriginal Health Research & Community EngagementPresentation to the College of Nursing,

University of Saskatchewan

April 4, 2013

Sarah OosmanPost-doctoral fellowSPHERU , University of Saskatchewan

Presentation Overview• Introduction to SPHERU

• Aboriginal health inequities & the social determinants

of health

• Participatory Action Research (PAR)

• Community engagement

• Experiences & Reflections

• Moving forward

SPHERUSaskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit

Aboriginal Health

Inequities

Social Determinants

of Health

Participatory Action Research Methodology

Plan

Act

Observe

Reflect

3

Adapted from: Zuber-Skerritt (2001)

2

Revised Plan Act

ObserveReflect

1

Act

Observe

Plan

Reflect

Participatory Action Research Methodology

Process of Community Engagement

Town council approval

Initial conversations with community champions

Phone and face-to-face meetings

Things to consider in effectively engaging community

• Build trust and rapport through action• Build research timeline and integrate community

perspective at the time of grant writing• Ensure community members aware of grant cycle

and timeline – enhances trust building• Integrate community capacity building and

ownership• Researcher visibility in the community

Application of PAR ~ from theory to action

• detailed & solid research plan

• strong goals & objectives

• consensus

Integrate with other community programs

Acknowledge underlying social structures and kinships

Artwork by Leah Dorion, “Givers of Life”

Capacity and rapport building through action

Integrate culture-based elements

Reciprocity

Finding Balance & Flexibility

Moving forward ~ nurturing long-term research relationships

thank you