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Developing Research Collaborations in an Academic Clinical Setting: Challenges and Lessons Learned

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Abstract

Research collaboration in “real world” practice settings may enhance the meaningfulness of the findings and reduce barriers to implementation of novel intervention strategies. This study describes an initiative to integrate research into a hospital-based outpatient psychiatric clinic within an academic medical center, focusing on collaborative processes across three research projects. We report on the varied outcomes of the projects and utilize data from two focus groups to identify the key elements that contributed to the challenges and successes. We identify barriers to practice-research collaborations that emerged even when the initial circumstances of the partnership were favorable. These barriers include the presence of varied agendas across clinicians and investigators, resource constraints, limited staff buy-in, and staff turnover. In highlighting the lessons learned in this collaborative process, we hope to facilitate successful partnerships in other clinical settings.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by the New York State Office of Mental Health and by institutional funds from the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

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Author notes

  1. Andel V. Nicasio

    Present address: Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, Adult Psychiatry Clinic, New York Presbyterian-Columbia, 635 West 165th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    John A. Sahs, Joan E. Storey & Roberto Lewis-Fernández

  2. Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, USA

    Andel V. Nicasio & Roberto Lewis-Fernández

  3. Department of Human Ecology and Investigator, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA

    Peter J. Guarnaccia

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  1. John A. Sahs
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Correspondence to John A. Sahs.

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Potential conflicts of interest involve awards of an investigator-initiated research grant from Eli Lilly to Dr. Lewis-Fernández. The remaining authors have no interests to disclose.

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Sahs, J.A., Nicasio, A.V., Storey, J.E. et al. Developing Research Collaborations in an Academic Clinical Setting: Challenges and Lessons Learned. Community Ment Health J 53, 647–660 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-016-0073-8

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