Evaluating Perceptions of the Effectiveness of the Community Advisory Panel Model for Enhancing Service Delivery to Marginalized Populations

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate perceptions of the effectiveness of the community advisory panels (CAPs) at St. Michael's Hospital, in Toronto, Canada. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A qualitative design was employed. Participants included hospital staff, patients, Community Advisory Panel chairs, and key informants from community services in the St. Michael's Hospital catchment area. MEASURES: An online survey about awareness of the CAPs and CAP accomplishments; (2) Key informants interviews; and (3) Review of memos and meeting minutes of the CAPs to assess their impact in the hospital and the community. St. Michael's Hospital was the setting of the study. Descriptive statistics were generated for the survey data. Qualitative interview data were coded for major themes. Participants included hospital staff, patients, CAP chairs, and key informants from community services in the St. Michael's Hospital catchment area. RESULTS: Although the CAPs initiated and implemented an array of programs and services at St. Michael's Hospital, the visibility of the CAPs and their service to the hospital and community were very low. Themes that emerged from the semistructured interviews involved the visibility, effectiveness, and role of the CAPs in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Although the CAPs at St. Michael's Hospital appear to be an effective model for community responsiveness, the visibility of their work in the hospital and community was very low.