PR ensures that communities share in selecting and designing research projects, gain skills during the research process, share in the reporting, and are in a position to use the results for their future health care planning. All partners are considered experts with complementary knowledge and skills. The first step in participatory research is to develop a strategy that defines the level of collaboration in all stages of a project from design to dissemination of the results. The strategy may be a formal document or code of ethics that guides the research process. Common goals, desired outcomes, potentially sensitive issues such as ownership of research data, and strategies for managing sensitive results to the communities as well as to scientific forums, will be identified by the entire research team.
Participatory research can require a considerable time commitment from all collaborators.
The outcome, however, is often health information that is more relevant and accessible to the community. This can lead to community-activated and sustained health programs that address important health problems. A PR project is considered successful if all collaborators are satisfied with the research process and the results. The overall goal is to increase knowledge of a process that can be applied, when appropriate, to achieve successful collaboration with communities.