JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Over the last decade, public health research and practice sectors have shifted their focus away from identifying health disparities and towards addressing the social, environmental, and economic determinants of health equity. Given the complex and interrelated nature of these determinants, developing policies that will advance health equity requires collaboration across sectors outside of health. However, engaging various stakeholder groups, tapping into their unique knowledge systems, and identifying common objectives across sectors is difficult and time-consuming and can impede collaborative efforts.

Objective:

The Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative (SHERC) at Northern Arizona University, in partnership with an 11-member community advisory council, is addressing this need with a joint community-campus effort to develop, pilot test, and implement a regional health equity survey designed to generate an interdisciplinary body of knowledge to guide future multi-sectoral action for improving community health and well-being.

Methods:

Survey development, pilot testing, and participant recruitment was conducted in collaboration with community partners. Over the course of 6 months, a total of 206 participants representing 13 sectors across the 5 counties of northern Arizona were recruited to participate in the Regional Health Equity Survey.

Results:

Survey response rates, completion percentage, and sector representation were used to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of using a community-engaged protocol for survey development and participant recruitment.

Conclusions:

The Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative effectively engaged community members to assist with the development and implementation of a regional health equity survey aimed at understanding and promoting multi-sectoral action on the root causes of health inequity.