• Yumna Masood, Anica Alvarez Nishio, Bella Starling, Shoba Dawson, Jon Salsberg, Steven Blackburn, Esther van Vliet, and PittensCarina A C MCACM0000-0002-2795-4790Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands..
• Centre for Evidence Based Medicine | Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences |, University of Oxford Radcliffe Primary Care Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
• Eur J Gen Pract. 2024 Dec 1; 30 (1): 23229962322996.

AbstractPublic engagement in health research is vital for addressing health disparities and promoting inclusivity among minoritised communities who often face barriers to accessing healthcare. Minoritised communities are groups, which have been made minorities by a dominant culture, race, ethnic group and/or social class and may experience health inequalities as a result. By incorporating diverse perspectives and lived experiences of minoritised communities, this approach aims to achieve contextually relevant research outcomes that reduce health inequalities and improve overall well-being. However, underrepresentation and lack of inclusivity challenges persist, necessitating the establishment of inclusive partnerships and grassroots participatory methodologies. To foster inclusive public engagement, it is important to overcome structural and cultural barriers, address socioeconomic challenges, and build trust with minoritised communities. This can be achieved by promoting a cultural shift that values inclusivity, providing comprehensive training to researchers, and collecting rigorous data on engagement demographics for transparency and accountability. Involving minoritised communities in decision-making through participatory research approaches enhances trust and yields successful outcomes. Additionally, allocating sufficient resources, collaborating in co-production, and prioritising the diverse needs and perspectives of stakeholders contribute to fostering inclusive public engagement in research. Overall, inclusive engagement practices particularly in primary care research have the potential to reduce health inequalities and cater to the unique requirements of minoritised communities, thereby creating more impactful outcomes and promoting equitable healthcare access.

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