Community-engaged Research Research Articles

Building Research for Academic and Community Equity (BRACE): A Toolkit for Community Research Partnerships.

Health and human service community organizations and researchers have important insights and resources to share with each other, yet often have very little information about how to interact in meaningful and equitable ways. Conceptualized by and for community organization professionals wanting to equitably interact with academic researchers, BRACE (Building Research for Academic and Community Equity) is a toolkit easily accessible to community members which explains research information and jargon in clear terms. BRACE uses community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles to guide both community organizations and academics seeking to partner on research. The BRACE toolkit's two main sections focus on identifying ideal aspects of community-academic research partnerships and writing grant proposals. Tools such as BRACE have the potential to increase the impact of community-engaged research by providing concrete guides for building partnerships and potentially sustaining them through grant funding.

"What if that's your last sleep?" A qualitative exploration of the trauma of incarceration and sleep.

Sleep is an underexplored factor in the health of people involved in the criminal legal system. This study addresses the paucity of research on how individual, social, and physical environmental factors impact sleep health during and after incarceration by highlighting the voices of people involved in the criminal legal system through a community-engaged qualitative research approach. We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with men recently released from prison for a study on trauma and healthcare during incarceration and after release. Interviews were coded and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and a critical realist framework. Our research team included people with a history of incarceration who performed central roles in the research process. Three themes emerged from participants' descriptions of sleep during and after incarceration: (1) concerns about health contributing to sleep problems, (2) lack of access to treatment for sleep disorders leading to ongoing sleep problems, and (3) issues of safety contributing to sleep problems during incarceration and after release. This study identifies factors and domains influencing sleep during and after incarceration. By identifying which interpersonal, environmental, and structural factors impact sleep quality, medical and carceral staff are better equipped to ameliorate sleep health disparities within populations with a history of incarceration and those actively bound by the criminal legal system. Future research should examine other factors impacting sleep in incarcerated and recently released populations and develop multi-level interventions to improve sleep health. This paper is part of the Sleep and Circadian Health in the Justice System Collection.

Turning the Health Equity Lens to Diversity in Asian American Health Profiles.

The monolithic misrepresentation of Asian American (AsAm) populations has maintained assumptions that AsAm people are not burdened by health disparities and social and economic inequities. However, the story is more nuanced. We critically review AsAm health research to present knowledge of AsAm health profiles from the past two decades and present findings and opportunities across three topical domains: (a) general descriptive knowledge, (b) factors affecting health care uptake, and (c) effective interventions. Much of the literature emphasized underutilization of health care services; low knowledge and awareness among AsAms about health-related risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment; inadequate efforts by health systems to improve language access, provider-patient communication, and trust; and the critical roles of community- and faith-based organizations and leaders in health promotion initiatives. Future opportunities for AsAm health research will require adoption of and significant investment in community-engaged research infrastructure to increase representation, funding, and research innovation for AsAm communities.

THE PROMISE AND CHALLENGES OF GERONTOLOGISTS WHO ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH

Abstract Our aging population demands more responsive policies and services and calls for a shift from involving older adults as individual participants toward collaborating with or empowering their communities as research partners. Knowing how to build capacity for community-engaged research (CEnR) among gerontologists requires understanding the challenges of such endeavors. A survey was distributed to gerontologists in March 2021 to December 2022, and was supplemented by a brainstorming focus group. We received responses from academic faculty, staff, students, and trainees (n=98) representing multiple academic disciplines from community health and implementation science to behavioral and social sciences. Many identified as a minoritized person (57.7%) and used mixed methods (55.1%). Focus group findings revealed challenges around community and participant recruitment, sustaining relationships, low-resource contexts and recognition. These reflected concerns around time, work, and funding – three most commonly-occurring words in survey responses. Barriers articulated include, “the time it takes to cultivate real relationships with community partners to design and carry out research together,” “confusion among academic colleagues on how this work is scholarship,” and a “lack of understanding and recognition from universities and funding agencies.” To more effectively mobilize knowledge and remain relevant, institutions would do well to heed calls for training on involving community members as co-researchers (78.6%), learning about rapidly developing CEnR methodologies (75.3%), and sustaining successful intervention programs after grant funding has ended (70.4%) among other priorities. This study provides critical insight into the landscape of CEnR among gerontologists and may be used to develop more supportive programs and structures.

INCLUSION AND INTEGRATION OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES IN RESEARCH: INSIGHT FROM AND FOR GERONTOLOGISTS

Abstract Engaging diverse stakeholders in research is increasingly required by funding agencies though training, skills and capacity building for engaged approaches have not kept pace. To advance the science of community engaged research (CEnR) we convene leading scholars who will provide insight on the inherent issues of engaging stakeholders in research and strategies for overcoming obstacles. The first presentation will summarize findings from a study of gerontologists and aging trainees to understand the needs and challenges of engaging patient and community stakeholders in research. The second will present strategies for engaging Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in a communication program for people living with dementia in skilled nursing facility. The third will present findings from community discussions that informed adaptations to the development of remote sensing technologies and discuss the continuing role for community engagement in implementation. The fourth presentation will offer insight on integrating diverse perspectives in the development of a dementia-focused intervention in a nursing home. The final presentation will summarize the results of a tobacco exposure study to inform the development of a harm-reduction intervention among long-term renters in extended-stay hotels and the benefits of stakeholder partnerships in building trust and aiding in renter recruitment. We will conclude with an attendee inclusive discussion to envision a path that may empower people of all ages and at all career stages to engage diverse stakeholders as partners to catalyze scientific research that is responsive and relevant to those who have a stake in healthy aging and results in social change. This is a collaborative symposium between the Community-Engaged Research and Patient/Person Engagement in Research Interest Groups.

INCONSISTENT AND UNPREPARED: HOW FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE

Abstract Family caregivers and older adult patients report confusion, inconsistency, and a lack of preparation for post-discharge activities after a hospital stay, leading to hospital readmissions. This multi-disciplinary research project investigated how family caregivers, older adult patients, and hospital clinical and administrative staff experienced the hospital discharge process at a midwestern hospital system. The research team brought together expertise in community-engaged research and bridged multiple specializations, including personal family caregiver experience, community service expertise, community engaged research leadership, and instruction of medical students and social work students. Together, we conducted semi-structured interviews with family caregiver, older adult patients, and hospital personnel via video conference and telephone. We analyzed the data using open coding strategies and principles of thematic analysis. Themes included the importance of the timing of discharge planning, communication between all systems and individuals included in the discharge process, a lack of clarity regarding the roles in the process, inconsistent identification of the family caregiver, conflicting priorities, and the impact of medication errors. Implications are (1) each organization within the older adult/family caregiver system must determine their role in the post discharge process including the type of services and resources that support older adults and family caregivers and (2) the current system of healthcare, public sector, and community must determine how to adapt and change to support older adults and their family caregivers during the post-discharge period.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WITH A MIXED-METHOD DATASET USING DECEDENT DATA

Abstract This presentation will present opportunities and challenges in building and sharing a mixed method dataset of terminally ill hospice patients from residential homes for the dying (social model hospice). As nonprofit, community-based settings, residential homes for the dying document care decisions using paper files and handwritten notes, and files range in size based on length of stay (with some files being hundreds of pages in length). Through a multi-site community-university partnership, we have scanned over 500 patient records, extracted quantitative data, and de-identified data for qualitative analysis. We will share the challenges of data management and organization, extraction, and de-identification. We will also discuss ethical issues related to working with decedent data, community-engaged research, and multi-site collaboration. Based on our experiences with qualitative data analysis of resident files, we will share strategies for extracting qualitative data from decedent records, using qualitative data analysis software, and sharing data for collaborative research.

UNDERSTANDING CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS FOR DEAF OLDER ADULTS

Abstract The Aging Concerns, Challenges, and Everyday Solution Strategies (ACCESS) project explores everyday activity challenges and solutions experienced by U.S. older adults as they age with a lifelong disability involving vision, motor, or hearing. Here, we report our findings from our community-engaged research with older adults who self-identify as members of the U.S. Deaf Community and who use American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language. Using trained Deaf interviewers, we conducted semi-structured interviews in ASL with 60 Deaf participants (age 60-79 years) to understand their challenges performing various everyday activities (e.g., doing things around the home, activities outside the home, transportation, and managing health). Overall, our thematic analyses revealed that Deaf older adults navigate everyday tasks quite well. However, they experience particular challenges with technology, communication, and accessibility; specifically, fragile or inaccessible technology systems. For instance, technology alerting systems at home (e.g., smoke alarms) or airports (e.g., gate change announcements) are typically auditory. Accessibility is also poor when healthcare or wellness providers fail to provide an ASL interpreter. When probed about their responses to these challenges, Deaf older adults often reported frustration or resignation when experiencing barriers; the need for constant vigilance and self-advocacy; or reliance on hearing family members when systems fail them. Improving communication access and technologies that Deaf older adults rely on is critical and requires the inclusion of individuals from the Deaf community to identify the challenges and potential avenues for solutions.

WORKFORCE EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND EVALUATION TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN A PROVIDER SHORTAGE STATE

Abstract State of Nevada has been a provider shortage area and ranks 50th state of primary care providers per capita in 2022. As a result, Medicare spends highest spending per capita and highest 30-day readmission rate of vulnerable and older adults, i.e., individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias. To respond these challenges, geriatric workforce education program (GWEP) was launched in 2019. Along with interdisciplinary education of healthcare providers, GWEP overarched to an innovative technology, i.e., digital health and machine learning methodology aiming at mitigating bias in healthcare and predicting events, i.e., nursing home placement and designating power of attorney timelines that are useful for planning advance care in primary care. GWEP team evaluates the impact of these education and technology implementation impact on healthcare delivery efficiency, i.e., healthcare cost. in real-world payment system. This is a collaborative symposium between the Community-Engaged Research, Geriatric Education, and Patient/Person Engagement in Research Interest Groups.

JOB EXPECTATIONS VS. REALITY: WORKPLACE EXPERIENCES FROM THE NURSING HOME FRONTLINES

Abstract Nursing assistants have been at the frontlines of nursing home care, providing direct resident care and services to aging adults. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increased employment need for nurse aides over the next ten years. However, the annual rate of nurse aide turnover is over 120 percent. To better understand the unique factors that contribute to nurse aide turnover in nursing homes and assisted livings, this sequential mixed-methodological study design reports findings of activities, relationships, and job interactions that contribute to nurse aide turnover. Guided by a socio-ecological model, qualitative findings from 17 nurse aides (N=17) reveal interpersonal factors, such as relationships with others at the workplace and relationships with residents, as impacting turnover. Institutional and Community factors were also found to impact turnover, including staffing levels, resources, education, and compensation. Informed by the interview findings, there were 239 nursing home or assisted living nurse aides (N=239) that participated in the quantitative portion of this study. Over one-quarter of nurse aides (27.80%) reveal that getting to know the residents was one of the best things about working in a nursing home or assisted living. Of direct care tasks, nurse aides reported physical injury or strain (20.16%), and the physical demands of the job (20.16%) as the greatest challenges. Taken together, findings from this study reveal that using community-engaged research methods in nursing home research may lead to a more nuanced understanding of the workplace needs and desires of nursing assistants.

INTEGRATING PRACTITIONER KNOWLEDGE INTO AN ALGORITHM TO IDENTIFY CASES FOR REVIEW BY AN ADULT MALTREATMENT MDT

Abstract Case review multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) bring together professionals from health, social service, and justice systems to address complex cases of elder abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and maltreatment of younger adults with disability or vulnerability. MDTs are a promising intervention, but MDTs nationwide face challenges identifying cases for review. In partnership with San Francisco Adult Protective Services (APS), we developed an algorithm-driven process to systematically identify APS cases that appear appropriate for MDT review. To construct the algorithm, a retrospective analysis of APS case data was augmented by insights received during six listening sessions held with 48 study partners (MDT members and APS staff). These sessions gauged perspectives on cases’ suitability for MDT review. Listening session transcripts were coded using constant comparative analysis, revealing themes of Client, Case Details, and Service Utilization Patterns. Client included physical or cognitive impairment, high-risk of abuse or other harms, need for assistance from multiple service systems, and limited motivation to make changes. Case Details referred to aspects of the abuse such as concurrent self-neglect, client protectiveness of the suspected abuser, client denial of the abuse, and limited evidence of criminal conduct. Service Utilization Patterns were recurrence within APS, attempting multiple solutions, inability to provide services, and referral by medical professionals, fire departments, or paramedics. These topics guided the inclusion of variables in the project’s algorithms. This mixed-methods approach provides an example of community-engaged research being applied to develop knowledge and guide the practice of service delivery for vulnerable older adults and other victims of adult maltreatment.

HEALTH SYSTEM PARTNERSHIPS IN INTERVENTION AND OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES: REFLECTIONS FROM AN EARLY-CAREER SCHOLAR

Abstract The early knowledge base and interventions in the field of elder mistreatment were built by clinician researchers, leading to a natural research-to-practice pipeline. But with more non-clinical researchers steadily entering the field, care must be taken to forge strong research-practitioner partnerships, to three ends: 1) developing clinically informed research and intervention approaches, 2) recruiting clinically relevant samples, and 3) implementing findings into clinical practice. This process can be particularly challenging for early-career non-clinical researchers, who may lack strong partnerships on which to build their research. This presentation extracts lessons for early career scholars by providing overviews of the development of and findings from two studies. The Comprehensive Older Adult Caregiving Supports (COACH) EM prevention program was delivered in partnership with a managed care health system, with referrals received from health system providers. The Better Together study of dementia care groups (i.e., persons living with dementia and their care partners) received referrals from clinicians in mixed managed care/fee-for-service settings, county health facilities, and community partners. Drawing from the principles of community-engaged research, the presentation highlights the relevance of various engagement approaches to elder mistreatment research, including: 1) partnering with senior researchers with existing networks; 2) taking the time to learn the health system’s and clinicians’ operational systems, pressures, and constraints; 3) honoring practitioner expertise in building research projects and developing research questions; 4) prioritizing meaningful reciprocal engagement, through offering topical or research presentations, funding, co-authorship, etc.; and 5) educating health system administrators about the nuances of conducting elder mistreatment research.

AGE-FRIENDLY CITIES AND COMMUNITIES: RESEARCH ON LOCAL PRACTICE TO STRENGTHEN THE MOVEMENT’S FUTURE

Abstract The age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC) movement has accelerated a major paradigmatic shift for the field of aging in the 21st century. Launched and spurred by high-profile government agencies and organizations across the globe, this ambitious movement highlights the transformative potential of deliberate, cross-sectoral efforts to improve built, social, and service environments of localities in response to population aging. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the development of a global program of policy and practice on AFCCs, with an emphasis on its emergence in the United States. It will then present insights regarding challenges and opportunities for the future based on findings from an ongoing, longitudinal study of a regional network of AFCC initiatives. The study, designed as a developmental evaluation, explores the perspectives of on-the-ground AFCC leaders on their practice as part of a private philanthropic grantmaking initiative to spur AFCCs in New Jersey. Reflecting on our years of engaged research with this network, the presentation will highlight issues concerning multi-level systems alignment, the promises and pitfalls of public sector leadership, the need for additional practice theories, and greater incorporation of considerations of aging equity and racial justice. The presentation will demonstrate the importance of continuing to leverage the strengths of community-engaged research to better ensure the movement’s relevance, reach, and equitable impact across diverse community, organizational, and broader systems contexts.

FORWARD STEPS AND MISSTEPS: WHAT WE’VE LEARNED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY-ENGAGED RESEARCH

Abstract Historically, research with Indigenous populations has disregarded community input, creating mistrust among tribal communities toward researchers, and resulting in communities limiting their involvement in research projects. Today, Indigenous communities are becoming more engaged in the research process, including developing their own tribal review boards, partnering with researchers throughout entire research process, as well as exercising their tribal sovereignty and housing their own data. These efforts have resulted in the development of rigorous Indigenous approval processes, increased engagement of Indigenous people and communities in research, and studies that have direct impacts on those engaged, as well as future generations, as well as protect both the Indigenous communities and the researchers. As a researcher trained to conduct culturally respectful and culturally safe research with Indigenous communities in Alaska, my team and I have gained first-hand experience with tribal research protocols, research processes, and the iterative process of developing relationships, navigating research ethics, as well as ensuring that findings are reflective of the community, its individual members, and the region. Despite our best efforts, research does not go as written in our grant proposals. This presentation will outline the complexities of navigating tribal approval processes in Alaska, highlight some of the challenges we have faced while conducting community-engaged research in Alaska; our lessons learned by doing it incorrectly. We will also share recommendations for researchers interested in working with Indigenous communities and how to work collaboratively with to avoid pitfalls, but also how to get back on track and develop lasting relationships.

Community Engaged Research as Relationship Building

This study examines the cultural and linguistic funds of knowledge (Moll, Amanti, Neff, & González, 1992; Moll, 2019) of multilingual families shared by parent authors in bilingual children’s books integrated into culturally responsive pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 1995, 2014) shared in formal and informal learning contexts -- including elementary schools, public libraries and parks, teacher education university courses, and digital platforms. This study practices community-engaged research in which the experiences and perspectives of participants and researchers shaped how data was collected, understood, and shared with others (Bay & Swacha, 2020). Parent authors were invited to partner in generating, reflecting on, and sharing stories as educational community experiences, and as part of a study focused on fostering appreciation, understanding, and preservation of cultural and linguistic heritages as a significant aim in in our multicultural, multilingual world. As part of this, the study supports teachers, schools, and community stakeholders in including diverse languaging features (García, 2009) in curricula and instruction. Community engaged research highlights the complexities of the human experience and results in a valuable outcome beyond quantifiable data: community relationships. This collaborative inquiry into the development and sharing of multilingual parent books revealed relationship building as an artistic, authentic, and humanizing practice of bridge-building.

Community engagement strategies for population health research with culturally diverse adults

The purpose of this report is to describe the community engagement research (CEnR) strategies used to implement the Florida Statewide Registry for Aging Studies (FSRAS), a tri-institutional research project conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe the CEnR strategies used to enroll adults aged > 25 years old self-identifying as African American (AA), Caribbean (CN), or Hispanic/Latinx (H/L) into FSRAS health research studies. The second goal is to report the number of AA, CN, and H/L adults involved in FSRAS and discuss the implications of CEnR strategies used throughout this research. More than 1600 adults aged 25 years or older participated in FSRAS health-related research activities or studies. Specifically, 25 community leaders from throughout Florida served on the FL-SAGE Council, 587 AA, CN, and H/L adults aged > 25 years old participated in listening sessions and completed surveys exploring intergenerational influence, 292 AA, CN, and H/L adults participated in marketing research, and at least 702 adults have enrolled in AgeWell, FSRAS’s health registry for persons interested in healthy aging research. Implications are researchers should continue using several CEnR strategies including technology and social media. Examining how the foundational principles of trust and authenticity are maintained when using CEnR strategies in virtual settings is warranted. Research implications are that simultaneously using CEnR strategies to recruit and enroll underrepresented populations into research is most effective although further research is needed to identify which CEnR strategy is most effective for enrolling AA, CN, and H/L older adults in aging research.

Urban Health, Social Participation, and Praxis

Sustainable cities need considerations of social participation toward the real changes to the inclusions and better decisions on own driving. Social participation within Urban Health and research by community social actors worldwide has been built on the effective contribution of community participation, to social movements and organizing for health and social justice. This paper builds on this perspective to expand our global knowledge about community participation in research through a dialogue between experiences and contexts in two countries in this approach, the United States and Brazil, considering the urban effects and inclusions. We first focus on differences in political and scientific contexts, and academic perspectives and then present how, despite these differences, similarities exist in values and collaborative methodologies aimed at engaging community partners in democratizing science and knowledge construction. We present a set of case studies, from the U.S. and from Brazil, which illustrate similar multi-level processes using participatory research tools to contribute to social mobilization, community empowerment, and the transformation of inequitable societal conditions in urban centers toward sustainable cities. Despite different processes of evolution, we observed a convergence of participatory health research strategies and values that can transform science, and ambiance in our commitment to reduce health and social inequities and improve community wellbeing.

Public engagement by early career researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic: case studies from East Africa.

Community engagement and involvement (CEI) in research usually depends on face-to-face interactions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented such interactions because of national lockdowns and social distancing. This paper highlights the ways in which early career researchers from East Africa tackled CEI activities during the pandemic. We provide four case examples that illustrate how early-career researchers based in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, deployed different approaches and initiatives to community-engaged research during the pandemic to encourage participation and uptake of research findings. All the three early-career researchers attempted to use virtual/digital means to implement the CEI. However, in each country, this attempt was unsuccessful because of poor connectivity, as well as many poorer students lacking access to telephones and computers. Nevertheless, the researchers effectively engaged the students using different activities (making up songs, drawing comics, and taking part in quizzes) once the schools reopened. These results highlight the complexity of implementing community engagement and involvement in health research when face-to-face interaction is not possible. The findings are relevant to researchers who wish to incorporate community engagement in their research and initiatives.

Transgender identity genetic research: Attitudes, opinions & beliefs among members of the transgender and gender diverse communities

Background: There is growing interest in investigating genetic explanations for transgender identity. In the spirit of a Community-Engaged Research Framework, which highlights the importance of involving community members who would be impacted by research throughout the entire research process, it is important for researchers to understand transgender and gender expansive individuals’ views and concerns regarding the potential harms and benefits of transgender identity genetic research (TIGR). Aim: To evaluate the thoughts, opinions, and beliefs in the transgender and gender diverse communities toward TIGR Methods: We conducted an online survey study, asking 409 transgender and gender diverse individuals about their views regarding potential benefits and risks of TIGR. Results: Participants demonstrated a mixture of positive and negative opinions on the search for a genetic contribution to gender identity. Overall, there was a slight trend toward more positive views, with 71% agreeing or strongly agreeing that TIGR made them feel hopeful. Discussion: Given the varied and nuanced views held within the transgender and gender diverse communities toward transgender genetic research, we hope that this study can be one of many evaluating this topic, and that our findings, and those of future studies, can serve as a foundation for conducting transgender genetic research in a way that is in alignment with the ethos and priorities of the transgender and gender diverse communities.

Evaluating the impact of engaging older adults and service providers as research partners in the co-design of a community mobility-promoting program: a mixed methods developmental evaluation study

BackgroundIncreasingly researchers are partnering with citizens and communities in research; less is known about research impacts of this engagement. EMBOLDEN is an evidence-informed, mobility-promoting intervention for older adults co-designed by a 26-person Strategic Guiding Council (SGC) of health/social service providers and older adult citizens. This study evaluated research partners’ perceptions of engagement strategies, the engagement context, strengths, areas for improvement, as well as the impacts of the guiding council on older-adult identified priority areas.MethodsThis study was guided by developmental evaluation, working in partnership with four older adult SGC members who helped to set evaluation priorities, decide methods, and adapt patient-centred evaluation tools. Data sources included a questionnaire, focus groups and document analysis of meeting notes from 16 SGC meetings that took place between December 2019 and February 2022. A thematic approach to analysis guided the coding of focus group transcripts and SGC meeting notes. Convergent mixed methods guided the integration and presentation of qualitative and quantitative data sources in a joint display of evaluation results.ResultsOf 26 SGC members, nine completed the evaluation squestionnaire, and five participated in focus groups. Around two thirds of the SGC commonly attended each meeting. EMBOLDEN’s SGC was structured to include a diverse group (across gender, ethnicity and discipline) of older adults and service providers, which was perceived as a strength. Engagement processes were perceived as inclusive and well-facilitated, which stimulated discussion at meetings. Advantages and disadvantages of engaging with the SGC virtually, as compared to in-person (as was the case for the first 3 SGC meetings) were also discussed. Impacts of the SGC were identified across preparatory, execution phase and translational stages of research. Impacts of SGC involvement on members were also described.ConclusionOlder adult research partners played an important role designing, implementing, and evaluating co-design approaches in this study. Older adults and service providers can make important contributions to the design, delivery and sharing results of health research through their lived expertise and connections to community. This project contributes to the growing field of citizen and community engagement in research by offering a participatory approach to engagement evaluation that considers diversity, satisfaction, and impact.