Design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challenges

Abstract The involvement of communities with a stake in healthcare research is often limited, and attempts to increase their participation and to create shared decision-making partnerships are often hindered by structural barriers. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a Commun...

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Main Authors: Ayan A. Yusuf, Victoria Hatfield, Katherine Francombe Pridham, George Da Silva, Rene Adams, Daniela Mergarten, Veronica Snooks, Frank Crichlow, Stephen W. Hwang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Research Involvement and Engagement
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00733-z
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author Ayan A. Yusuf
Victoria Hatfield
Katherine Francombe Pridham
George Da Silva
Rene Adams
Daniela Mergarten
Veronica Snooks
Frank Crichlow
Stephen W. Hwang
author_facet Ayan A. Yusuf
Victoria Hatfield
Katherine Francombe Pridham
George Da Silva
Rene Adams
Daniela Mergarten
Veronica Snooks
Frank Crichlow
Stephen W. Hwang
author_sort Ayan A. Yusuf
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The involvement of communities with a stake in healthcare research is often limited, and attempts to increase their participation and to create shared decision-making partnerships are often hindered by structural barriers. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center. We detail the group’s model, guiding principles, governance structure, and activities, and discuss institutional challenges encountered over the course of this partnership. We report that the lack of policies and practices in academic research institutions to support long-term collaboration with community experts makes it challenging to define their scope and role, often requiring individual research teams to fill this gap.
format Article
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issn 2056-7529
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Research Involvement and Engagement
spelling doaj-art-5dfb00a0ac9944f69128fb6325f6d8382025-08-20T03:07:57ZengBMCResearch Involvement and Engagement2056-75292025-05-0111111110.1186/s40900-025-00733-zDesign and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challengesAyan A. Yusuf0Victoria Hatfield1Katherine Francombe Pridham2George Da Silva3Rene Adams4Daniela Mergarten5Veronica Snooks6Frank Crichlow7Stephen W. Hwang8MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s HospitalAbstract The involvement of communities with a stake in healthcare research is often limited, and attempts to increase their participation and to create shared decision-making partnerships are often hindered by structural barriers. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center. We detail the group’s model, guiding principles, governance structure, and activities, and discuss institutional challenges encountered over the course of this partnership. We report that the lack of policies and practices in academic research institutions to support long-term collaboration with community experts makes it challenging to define their scope and role, often requiring individual research teams to fill this gap.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00733-zCommunityCommunity ExpertsHomelessnessResearch Engagement
spellingShingle Ayan A. Yusuf
Victoria Hatfield
Katherine Francombe Pridham
George Da Silva
Rene Adams
Daniela Mergarten
Veronica Snooks
Frank Crichlow
Stephen W. Hwang
Design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challenges
Research Involvement and Engagement
Community
Community Experts
Homelessness
Research Engagement
title Design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challenges
title_full Design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challenges
title_fullStr Design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challenges
title_full_unstemmed Design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challenges
title_short Design and implementation of a Community Expert Group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center: a program description and analysis of challenges
title_sort design and implementation of a community expert group comprised of people with lived expertise of homelessness at an academic health research center a program description and analysis of challenges
topic Community
Community Experts
Homelessness
Research Engagement
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-025-00733-z
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