Using Stakeholder Input to Inform an Innovative Research and Policy Initiative to Improve Depression in Safety Net Communities
Published in: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, Volume 11, no. 1 (Spring 2017), pages 93–98. Project MUSE, doi: 10.1353/cpr.2017.0012
Posted on RAND.org on July 13, 2017
The Problem
Depression quality improvement (QI) programs based on chronic disease management models have been shown to improve depression outcomes. Nonetheless, access to and the use of such programs is limited in minority, under-resourced communities.
Purpose
We report on the outcomes of a Delphi-based consensus exercise conducted by our partnership at a community-wide conference in Los Angeles. Participants identified and prioritized the needs of depressed individuals that should be addressed in a county-wide Health Neighborhood Initiative (HNI) designed to increase existing mental health, substance use, health care, and social services for individuals with low socioeconomic position (SEP).
Lessons Learned
Participants agreed that housing is the number one priority. Delphi results also illustrate the importance of addressing social, spiritual, and health care access needs of depressed individuals.
Conclusions
Our study shows how to systematically engage community-based organizations, patients, families, and community members in the process of improving the design of community-wide health policy initiatives.
Research conducted by
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