Building an international collaboration on participatory health research.

THE PROBLEM: Participatory health research (PHR) is receiving increased international attention as an approach for addressing various health issues. However, PHR has not yet achieved the status of other forms of research in terms of having an impact on health policy decisions. PURPOSE OF ARTICLE: This article reports on the current status of the new International Collaboration on Participatory Health Research (ICPHR). KEY POINTS: By formulating common definitions and standards for PHR and synthesizing the results and methods of participatory research, the collaboration will seek to strengthen the role of PHR in academic and political institutions. CONCLUSION: The collaboration is an important structure for advancing the practice, theory, and impact of PHR internationally.