Using the World Café to Elicit Provider Perspectives on Pathways to Health for Black Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

There remain ongoing calls for health services researchers to adopt research approaches that name and frame complex intersectional concerns, and elicit perspectives not otherwise elevated in the field. This commitment requires expanding the use of data collection methods beyond conventions typical to health services research. The World Café (TWC) methodology is a participatory strategy utilized by researchers to facilitate group engagement in the research process and has demonstrated alignment with health services research. In this manuscript, we illustrate the potential of TWC for swift and rigorous data collection exemplified with occupational therapy professionals at a state-wide conference. Participants engaged in roundtable discussions that centered on three prompts related to Black people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their care partners: (1) occupational therapy’s influence on pathways to health, (2) social and structural drivers of healthcare access, and (3) the role of occupational therapy in eradicating barriers to healthcare. Critically, findings indicated that TWC can advance innovative approaches in health services research due to its flexibility, integration of research design and social context, and summarization and validation of knowledge. While limited in its ability to account for power imbalances, suppressing dissent, and lacking reflexivity, intentional adaptations to TWC procedures for a state-wide conference demonstrated potential for transformative action, data collection, and recruitment; and further underscored the need for more innovation in targeted recruitment of participants in health services research.