Social Equity Data in Primary Care: How Best to Collect Data From Hard-to-Reach Populations - A Pilot Randomized Control Trial

Health outcomes are strongly influenced by social, economic, and structural factors; however, routine collection of individual-level sociodemographic and social needs data in primary care remains inconsistent and often fails to capture information from populations experiencing marginalization. Existing data collection approaches, such as self-administered electronic questionnaires or opportunistic in-clinic screening, may underrepresent individuals facing barriers related to income, housing instability, language, disability, or limited access to digital tools. As a result, health systems lack the granular data needed to support equity-oriented care and planning.

Standardized tools for collecting sociodemographic and social needs information have been developed and implemented in some primary care settings, including the Health Equity Questionnaire (HEQ). However, prior implementation has demonstrated differential uptake, with lower participation among patients from underserved or structurally marginalized groups. Reported barriers include limited staff capacity, time constraints, discomfort with sensitive questions, and insufficient support for patients requiring assistance to complete questionnaires.

This study evaluates a community-engaged approach to improving the reach and completeness of sociodemographic data collection in primary care. The intervention introduces a Community Health Surveyor (CHS) role designed to proactively engage patients and support questionnaire completion, with a particular focus on individuals who may be less likely to participate through standard approaches.

The trial uses a parallel-group randomized design to compare usual care data collection practices with an enhanced model that includes CHS support. In usual care, patients are invited to complete the HEQ through existing clinic workflows, including electronic invitations linked to appointment reminders, in-person administration during clinic visits, or optional assistance from a virtual surveyor available by appointment. These approaches rely primarily on patient-initiated participation or time-limited interactions with clinic staff.

In the intervention arm, the CHS supplements usual care by proactively reaching out to patients to invite participation and facilitate questionnaire completion. The CHS is embedded within the clinical team and has experience in community-based health engagement. The role includes multiple contact attempts and flexible modes of administration, including telephone, in-clinic, or community-based completion, depending on patient preference. The CHS provides guided support throughout the questionnaire, including reading questions aloud, clarifying content, and facilitating completion in a manner that is responsive to patient needs. Language interpretation services are available to support participation in languages other than English.