C1.01 - Oral: Integrating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) into Health Education Research

Brief Abstract Summary: The National Institute of Health defined diversity as “the practice of including the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, including underserved communities.” Equity is “the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment.” Research that incorporates diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles is essential in health education research to ensure that investigators obtain accurate information to be used as the foundation for interventions in the communities they aim to serve. This presentation aims to discuss terms, considerations, and strategies to integrate DEIA into health education research.

Detailed abstract description: Research that incorporates diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) principles is essential in health education and health promotion, as it ensures that investigators obtain accurate information to be used as the foundation for health promotion and health education interventions in the communities they aim to serve (Maxwell et al., 2022). The National Institute of Health (2023) defined diversity as “the practice of including the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, cultures, and beliefs of the American people, including underserved communities.” Equity is “the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment.” Inclusion is “the recognition, appreciation, and use of the talents and skills of employees of all backgrounds.” Finally, accessibility refers to “the design, construction, development, and maintenance of facilities, information and communication technology, programs, and services so that all people, including people with disabilities, can fully and independently use them.” Researchers failing to incorporate DEIA principles into their research designs risk missing important nuanced information, which can adversely affect their findings and program development. When health researchers do not consider DEIA and cultural factors, they risk being irrelevant or counterproductive (Griffith et al., 2024). Many communities, particularly those from underserved and/or underrepresented groups, have historically been mistrustful of healthcare systems, including researchers, due to past unethical practices, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study (Gamble, 1997; Tobin, 2022). There are different approaches to incorporating DEIA principles into health education research, including examination of demographic questions, use of community participatory research, and culturally responsive research. By involving communities in the research process, health professionals can begin to rebuild this trust and collect information that can be used to promote health equity (Alvidrez et al., 2019; McGregor et al., 2019; Singer et al., 2022; Williams & Anderson, 2021). Culturally appropriate and DEIA-based research empowers communities by recognizing their knowledge and practices. This presentation aims to discuss terms, considerations, and strategies to integrate DEIA into health education research.