Addressing Health Disparities Through Deliberative Methods: Citizens' Panels for Health Equity.

ABSTRACT

Health disparities adversely affect millions of people living in disadvantaged communities, resisting public health interventions that do not address the specific conditions, driving forces, or health problems in these communities. Drawing from the underutilized science of deliberative methods, we introduce the innovative citizens' panels for health equity approach-a novel methodology that engages public expertise and knowledge of community health needs, risks, and priorities to tailor public health research and interventions for greater relevance and impact on disadvantaged communities.By engaging affected residents and stakeholders in informed deliberation and decision-making about community health disparities, citizens' panels provide important guidance for (1) designing research studies to target the major health disparities affecting disadvantaged communities and (2) tailoring evidence-based interventions to the perspectives, practices, and preferences of disadvantaged residents.Employed as the primary methodology in 2 federally funded projects conducted in California and Arkansas between 2017 and 2019, citizens' panels offer a systematic method for obtaining rich community insight into health disparities, shaping community-informed solutions, and affording disadvantaged communities influence over public health decision-making to stimulate grassroots change and health equity.