The NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory's Health Equity Core has released a comprehensive guide aimed at fostering health equity within pragmatic clinical trials. This resource is designed to assist research teams in defining health equity and implementing strategies to promote it throughout the research process.
Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, cochair of the Health Equity Core and an associate professor at Duke University School of Nursing, emphasized the importance of a clear understanding of health equity. "Understanding what we mean by health equity is a fundamental step for integrating a health equity lens into research," she stated. "Our Core developed this new resource to promote the concept of health equity and share ways to plan for and embed health equity into trials."
Key Components of the Health Equity Guide
The guide offers several key components to aid researchers in their efforts:
- Definition of Health Equity: A clear and concise definition of health equity within the context of pragmatic clinical trials.
- Challenges to Address: Examples of specific challenges that researchers may encounter when striving for health equity.
- Integration Strategies: Practical strategies for integrating health equity considerations into various stages of research.
- Ethical Considerations: An examination of the ethical dimensions of health equity efforts in clinical trials.
- Real-World Examples: Concrete examples of initiatives designed to promote health equity in clinical trials.
Advancing Health Equity in Pragmatic Research
This guide serves as a living document, intended to support the Health Equity Core's ongoing mission to address biases and advance health equity within the realm of pragmatic research. By providing a framework for understanding and implementing health equity principles, the NIH Collaboratory aims to improve the inclusivity and impact of clinical trials.
