ResearchPromotores(as) as Researchers
"The farmworker Promotores were able to fill so many critical roles for the project: recruiting subjects, obtaining informed consent, collecting data and informing design of research tools and training materials. A university researcher would never have been able to collect so much high-quality data."
-Linda Forst, MD, MPH, Associate Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Farmworkers, other rural community members and researchers often do not share information effectively with each other. However, with the help of Promotores and Promotoras, researchers can build a core body of knowledge about our nation’s farmworkers and border communities, and community members can access the data they need to improve health in their communities.
Researchers face many challenges when studying farmworkers and their communities. Farmworkers are often highly mobile, isolated and not a part of the traditional health care system. They work long and varying hours and may be hesitant to interact with authorities because of their immigration status or the status of a family member. In addition, language barriers and cultural differences often separate researchers and community members. Many similar challenges apply in extended farmworker communities, such as the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
At the same time, farmworkers and rural community members may not have the research and information they need to create healthier communities. Often, researchers are unaware of community priorities. As a result, completed research is not relevant, or the data do not address needed programs, policy changes or other issues important to communities. Or, researchers may fail to share their results with community members in clear, meaningful and usable ways.
Promotores(as) transcend these challenges when they act as liaisons between their communities and collaborating researchers. Promotores(as) are trusted community members, living and working alongside study participants. They are able to locate participants more easily, and they can identify farms, labor camps and colonias that outsiders may overlook. Promotores(as) are also able to disseminate and explain research findings to the community, so that community members can use the information to promote their own health.
Promotores(as) contribute to many aspects of research, including:
- Assessing needs and setting priorities
- Designing projects
- Gaining informed consent
- Conducting community censuses
- Selecting study samples
- Recruiting participants
- Arranging qualitative interviews and focus groups
- Conducting interventions
- Collecting data, including administering questionnaires and conducting worksite observations
- Participating in the surveillance of health problems
- Interpreting results
Promotores(as) enrich both the process and final results of research studies.
Examples of participatory research studies involving Promotores(as):
Promotores(as) Conduct Occupational Health Research
Promotores(as) Conduct Eye Injury and Illness Research
Promotoras Conduct HIV/AIDS Research
In all instances, Promotores(as) are key members of community-based participatory research teams, and they help shape the entire process, from community assessment to action steps and utilization of results. In the REACH Promotora Community Coalition, for example, Promotores(as) play key roles as planners, educators, evaluators and leaders and work in close collaboration with academics, nonprofit leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders to create positive change. Significantly, the Coalition process began in 1999 with a year-long community assessment and planning phase. Over 600 community members participated, reviewed the evidence and selected diabetes as their priority for action.
For help designing a research study involving Promotores(as), Request Assistance from Migrant Health Promotion’s Capacity-Building Team.
