Approaches for community intervention and research priority setting to reduce health inequalities: a scoping review

Catherine Shuttleworth; Jack Birch; Lauren Bell; Michael Ogunyemi; Cameron Ley; Harmony Lully; John Wilcox; Richard Grant; Jane Whitehurst; Naila Dracup; Sophie Staniszewska; Yen-Fu Chen

doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdaf151

Approaches for community intervention and research priority setting to reduce health inequalities: a scoping review

Catherine Shuttleworth
, Jack Birch
, Lauren Bell
, Michael Ogunyemi
, Cameron Ley
, Harmony Lully
, John Wilcox
, Richard Grant
, Jane Whitehurst
, Naila Dracup
, Sophie Staniszewska
, Yen-Fu Chen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background
There is growing attention on research and intervention prioritization regarding the social determinants of health to address health inequalities. Community involvement in this prioritization is centrally important. This scoping review aimed to identify: (i) examples of priority setting regarding the social determinants of health and (ii) methods for involving local communities in research or intervention prioritization.

Methods
Searches were conducted in Medline, Social Policy & Practice, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts, CINAHL, and Carrot2 in May 2024. Eligible studies reported prioritization with communities for interventions or research about the social determinants of health. Studies reported primary research in high-income countries. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, with a review team involving different professionals and public contributors.

Results
Eighteen studies were included. Community prioritization methods varied, though commonly included participatory approaches, with additional reports of Delphi exercises, a super-setting approach, a nominal group technique, a deliberative exercise using a serious game, and a modified James Lind Alliance process.

Conclusions
Meaningful community involvement in research and intervention prioritization offers critical opportunities to reduce existing health inequalities. Participatory and coproduced approaches are valuable to research collaborations, funders, and public health organizations, which should ensure trust, accessibility, and inclusion to involve diverse and underrepresented communities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	(In-Press)
Number of pages	17
Journal	Journal of Public Health
Volume	(In-Press)
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdaf151
Publication status	Published - 4 Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Funding

This work was supported by National Institute for Health and Care Research [Grant Number NIHR151356]. NIHR had no role in the conduct or decision to publish this scoping review. S.S. is part-funded by NIHR ARC West Midlands, NIHR West Midlands ESG, NIHR Screening ESG, and NIHR HDRC Coventry.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

social determinants
research
communities

Access to Document

10.1093/pubmed/fdaf151Licence: CC BY

fdaf151Final published version, 767 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Approaches for community intervention and research priority setting to reduce health inequalities: a scoping review",

abstract = "Background There is growing attention on research and intervention prioritization regarding the social determinants of health to address health inequalities. Community involvement in this prioritization is centrally important. This scoping review aimed to identify: (i) examples of priority setting regarding the social determinants of health and (ii) methods for involving local communities in research or intervention prioritization. Methods Searches were conducted in Medline, Social Policy \& Practice, Applied Social Sciences Index \& Abstracts, CINAHL, and Carrot2 in May 2024. Eligible studies reported prioritization with communities for interventions or research about the social determinants of health. Studies reported primary research in high-income countries. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, with a review team involving different professionals and public contributors. Results Eighteen studies were included. Community prioritization methods varied, though commonly included participatory approaches, with additional reports of Delphi exercises, a super-setting approach, a nominal group technique, a deliberative exercise using a serious game, and a modified James Lind Alliance process. Conclusions Meaningful community involvement in research and intervention prioritization offers critical opportunities to reduce existing health inequalities. Participatory and coproduced approaches are valuable to research collaborations, funders, and public health organizations, which should ensure trust, accessibility, and inclusion to involve diverse and underrepresented communities.",

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AU - Ogunyemi, Michael

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AU - Wilcox, John

AU - Grant, Richard

AU - Whitehurst, Jane

AU - Dracup, Naila

AU - Staniszewska, Sophie

AU - Chen, Yen-Fu

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N2 - Background There is growing attention on research and intervention prioritization regarding the social determinants of health to address health inequalities. Community involvement in this prioritization is centrally important. This scoping review aimed to identify: (i) examples of priority setting regarding the social determinants of health and (ii) methods for involving local communities in research or intervention prioritization. Methods Searches were conducted in Medline, Social Policy & Practice, Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts, CINAHL, and Carrot2 in May 2024. Eligible studies reported prioritization with communities for interventions or research about the social determinants of health. Studies reported primary research in high-income countries. A narrative synthesis was undertaken, with a review team involving different professionals and public contributors. Results Eighteen studies were included. Community prioritization methods varied, though commonly included participatory approaches, with additional reports of Delphi exercises, a super-setting approach, a nominal group technique, a deliberative exercise using a serious game, and a modified James Lind Alliance process. Conclusions Meaningful community involvement in research and intervention prioritization offers critical opportunities to reduce existing health inequalities. Participatory and coproduced approaches are valuable to research collaborations, funders, and public health organizations, which should ensure trust, accessibility, and inclusion to involve diverse and underrepresented communities.

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Approaches for community intervention and research priority setting to reduce health inequalities: a scoping review

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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