Innovative Approaches to Increase the Engagement of Populations That Experience Health Disparities in Human Factors and Ergonomics Research

The discipline of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) continues to expand its reach in the (re)design of healthcare systems, processes, products, and interventions. However, many individuals across a range of demographic characteristics continue to face significant health disparities and are underrepresented in the HFE research studies they would benefit from. HFE experts must turn their attention toward the representation of populations that experience health disparities in human factors research in health care. This panel will discuss best practices to engage these patient populations in the development of targeted interventions, opportunities for patient ergonomics to reduce barriers to health research participation, the utility of community engagement studios toward the design of HFE research studies, and human-centered protocols to engage D/deaf participants in participatory co-design sessions. After, the audience will be invited to participate in a 30-minute moderated session to discuss how HFE researchers can effectively and meaningfully partner with such populations.