Building trust to enhance community-engaged research and attain health equity

Community-engaged research (CEnR) is fundamental to health equity, yet medical distrust and mistrust are a barrier. Establishing engagement with partners and equal distribution of power are essential to building trust, which this article illustrates through three research exemplars. (a) The Empowering WHISE Women advisory board members were given opportunity to voice concerns and were compensated for their time; (b) The Mother's Milk Connection intervention was developed in collaboration with an advisory board of community partners to design and test the ability of a mobile health solution to improve access to equitable breastfeeding support; and (c) Active listening and a sustained partnership were foundational for Smart Health System "Techquity" curriculum development and dissemination. These collaborations among institutions, researchers, and community members are essential to combat medical distrust and health care inequities. Institutions can support CEnR through funding mechanisms, incorporation of CEnR methods in nursing curricula, and endorsement of community partner training.