Stakeholder Perspectives on the Responsible Innovation in Health Framework for Addressing Stigma-Based Health...

Area of Science:

• Health Equity Research
• Stuttering Intervention Design
• Responsible Innovation in Health (RIH) Framework Application

Background:

• People who stutter (PWS) face stigma-based health inequalities impacting quality of life and access to care.
• Existing interventions often lack explicit design to address systemic disparities for PWS.
• The Responsible Innovation in Health (RIH) framework offers a model for equitable, sustainable, and contextually responsive health innovations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stakeholder interpretations and applications of the RIH framework for envisioning interventions.
• To identify strategies for reducing stigma and promoting health equity for PWS.
• To understand how RIH principles can guide the development of tailored, context-specific interventions for stuttering.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods design utilizing the Participative Concept Mapping Approach.
• Stakeholders (PWS, clinicians, health innovators) participated in a workshop.
• Concept mapping was used to generate, sort, rate ideas, and perform thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders generated 94 ideas across six thematic clusters, including digital technology, collective approaches, cost/accessibility, inclusive design, multi-modal engagement, and flexibility.
• The environmental responsibility aspect of the RIH framework received limited attention.
• Discrepancies in idea importance and feasibility highlighted implementation and sustainability challenges.

Conclusions:

• Stakeholders prioritize RIH values when envisioning stigma-reducing health innovations for PWS.
• Embedding sustainability into clinical practices and incorporating user feedback are crucial for developing meaningful and feasible interventions.
• Co-designing interventions grounded in the lived experiences of PWS is essential for promoting health equity.