Engaging Youth in Bladder Health Research: Perspectives from a National Consortium's Young Women's Health Council

Engaging community stakeholders is increasingly an expected component of health-related research. This paper describes the development and implementation of a Young Women's Health Council (YWHC) within the context of a multicenter research consortium focused on the emerging field of bladder health from the perspective of its members. The principles of mutual benefit and social exchange direct the council's activities. To participate in the YWHC, members, ages 13 to 21 years, must be attentive to communications from facilitators and actively participate in bimonthly 90-minute Zoom meetings during which they provide input on research activities. YWHC members gain valuable knowledge, skills, and motivation for personal health and health careers and take pride in contributing to the research. Although the YWHC positively impacts both the young women and the research consortium, there remain areas for improvement. Recommendations are presented for fostering meaningful community engagement with youth in research initiatives.