Moving Forward: A Research Focus Grounded in Community Data and Prevention

by Hassan Salaheen
NHHRI’s Chief Research Officer

As funding environments change, community-based research organizations have an opportunity to clarify where research can have the greatest practical impact. One priority area is the intersection of chronic disease prevention and access to primary care among Hispanic families.

Chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and depression continue to affect many households at earlier ages and with greater severity than the general population. Yet the challenge is not only clinical. Barriers often occur before patients enter the exam room. Appointment scheduling, language concordance, transportation, insurance navigation, and understanding care instructions all influence whether prevention and treatment succeed. Traditional research frequently measures outcomes after care is delivered, but communities often experience barriers long before that point.

A practical research focus is therefore prevention pathways. This includes studying how individuals move from recognizing a health concern to successfully receiving and following care. Community-informed research can examine questions such as what helps patients schedule and attend appointments, how communication affects adherence to medications, and which local support systems improve follow-up and continuity of care.

In 2007, the Hispanic Health Council and Latino Policy Institute compiled a comprehensive profile of Latino health in Connecticut by synthesizing existing research and analyzing state and national health data across multiple conditions including access to health care, insurance coverage, maternal and child health, teen pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, behavioral health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, oral health, and environmental health issues.

The analysis drew from a comprehensive literature review, state and national health databases and surveillance systems, Connecticut Department of Public Health data, behavioral health surveys and vital statistics, community-based research studies conducted by Hispanic Health Council and partner organizations, U.S. Census data and demographic trends, and Connecticut-specific studies on health access, insurance coverage, and health outcomes.

The profile revealed significant health inequities: while Latinos represented 9% of Connecticut's residents, they accounted for 40% of the state's uninsured population. Latino children were hospitalized for asthma at rates five times higher than non-Latino white children. Latinas had diabetes mortality rates 60% higher than non-Latino whites and were twice as likely to be hospitalized for diabetes-related conditions. Despite lower overall breast cancer rates, Latinas were more likely to die from the disease due to late-stage diagnosis and barriers to screening. The research documented that these disparities stemmed from interconnected barriers, including lack of health insurance, language and cultural barriers in healthcare settings, low health literacy, poverty, and inadequate access to culturally competent care. However, the report also acknowledged significant gaps in available data, particularly regarding variation across Latino subgroups and statewide coverage, noting that many findings were concentrated in areas such as Hartford. The authors concluded that addressing these inequities required systemic policy change rather than individual-level interventions alone.

This is the type of deep dive that is needed at a community level to better understand the health of our communities and improve health systems throughout the country. 

Collecting this type of information requires partnership. Community health workers, patients, caregivers, and local organizations can help identify the points where people disengage from care and where small interventions may have large effects. Findings can guide low-cost solutions such as navigation support, culturally responsive communication strategies, and improved care coordination between clinics and community services.

Focusing research on prevention pathways also strengthens the usefulness of data. Instead of only describing disparities, studies can identify specific and actionable improvements that health systems and community organizations can implement. This approach supports prevention, reduces avoidable complications, and improves patient experience while remaining feasible within constrained resources.

As priorities evolve, research that connects lived experience with measurable outcomes becomes increasingly valuable. Continued collaboration among community organizations, healthcare providers, and research partners can help ensure that future studies generate practical knowledge that communities and health systems can apply in everyday care.