Priority Populations Toolkits: Enhancing researcher readiness to work with priority populations

Area of Science:

• Translational Science
• Health Disparities Research
• Community-Engaged Research

Background:

• The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences emphasizes research with priority populations to reduce health disparities.
• There is a need for better resources to support researchers working with diverse and underrepresented groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the initial effectiveness of five Priority Populations Toolkits.
• To provide resources for increasing knowledge, facilitating communication, and improving research design for studies involving priority populations.

Main Methods:

• Curated materials from literature reviews and internet searches.
• Iteratively revised toolkit content based on expert input and user feedback.
• Collected usage analytics and user survey data over 22 months.

Main Results:

• 387 unique users accessed the toolkits within 22 months.
• The primary reported use was to enhance research recruitment strategies.
• Initial evaluation indicates promising potential for increasing researcher knowledge and readiness.

Conclusions:

• Priority Populations Toolkits offer a valuable resource for researchers aiming to improve engagement with underrepresented populations.
• Further development and rigorous evaluation are necessary to confirm the effectiveness of these toolkits in reducing disparities.