Applying a Health Equity Lens to Pediatric Neurology Research: Lessons Learned From an Educational Workshop

Health disparities are increasingly important considerations in clinical practice and public health initiatives. Health disparities and health equity research methods are under-utilized in research design, analysis, and dissemination in pediatric neurology. This article highlights our collective experience in organizing a 1-hour workshop on “Applying a Health Equity Lens to Pediatric Neurology Research” at the 54th Annual Child Neurology Society Meeting. The topics covered included (1) use of theories, models, and frameworks from dissemination and implementation science for health equity; (2) community engagement and qualitative research methods in health equity research; (3) recruitment of representative populations in research studies; (4) social determinants of health, data collection tools, and indices used in research; and (5) integrating health equity research into a research career. This article describes session content and summarizes participant survey data. It also provides future directions and recommendations for integrating health equity into pediatric neurology research.