Engaging Students in Research: An Example Using Fit Body and Soul - A Faith-Based Adaptation of a Diabetes Prevention Program in Southeastern African-American Churches

Background:

Fit Body and Soul (FBAS) is a cluster randomized controlled diabetes prevention study conducted in 20 Southeastern African-American churches.  Churches were randomized to receive the Fit Body and Soul intervention or a health education program.  Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the study is housed in the College of Nursing where Nurse Practitioners are investigators and multiple Nurse Practitioner programs are offered.  Faculty members recognized the need for healthcare students to understand the research process in order to apply the concepts to evidence-based practice.  Therefore, we provided opportunities for students to engage in all aspects of the research from planning, to field work, and to dissemination of the findings.

Methodology:

The opportunity to participate in the FBAS research was announced by:  the faculty; the campus newspaper; and electronic means.  Interested healthcare students completed a web-based program on human subjects protection, and Nurse Practitioners trained students on their specific roles and data collection protocols.  We collected data over a 4-year period, 2009-2013, primarily on Saturdays.  Students were minimally compensated for their time and their travel expenses. 

Results:

Thirty undergraduate to doctoral level healthcare students, African-American and Caucasian, participated with FBAS.  Students participated in various aspects of planning and implementation of the research study such as curriculum development, participant recruitment, data management, and office duties.  Most students assisted with baseline, 12-week, and one-year data collections in the churches.  Some students participated in dissemination activities such as poster presentations and manuscript preparation.  Students did an excellent job and became a useful part of the research team.  To date, at least four students earned doctorates and two completed Nurse Practitioner programs.  Following their experience with Fit Body and Soul, several students conducted their own research as Nurse Practitioners and faculty members. 

Conclusions:

Our results show that Nurse Practitioner and other healthcare students will engage in research when opportunities are presented with flexible times and some funding.  Involvement in Fit Body and Soul:   enhanced student experiences; contributed to a highly complex research study; facilitated student understanding of the research process; and positioned students to apply the concepts they learned to their own evidence-based practice.