A recent study led by Dr. Connie K. Y. Nguyen-Truong, WSU College of Nursing, and Dr. Roschelle L. Fritz, UC Davis Health, offers a compelling model for building trust, techquity, and sustainability in smart health research. Published in the Journal of Participatory Research Methods, this work demonstrates how co-designed, community-driven approaches can transform research partnerships.
The study focused on building and testing a community-based smart health system (SHS) initiative using real-time sensors to support older adults’ chronic health needs. What made the process unique was its emphasis on belonging, reflection, and responsiveness between academic, nonprofit, and government partners in the work of optimal health and well-being for all.
Key Methods Used
- Community Cultural Wealth Framework: Shifted the focus from deficits to community strengths like linguistic adaptability, intergenerational support, and cultural resilience.
- Cross-Sector Agreements: Co-developed expectations for communication, shared decision-making, and cultural respect.
- Voice-Driven Co-Design: Partners influenced everything from study materials to participant eligibility. For example, the team lowered the participant age from 60 to 50 based on community needs and removed the requirement for home internet by providing hotspots.
Outcomes That Mattered
- Flyers customized to each partner improved trust and communication.
- Prototype redesigns ensured engagement of multigenerational households.
- Partners developed long-term relationships that extended beyond the project.
Why It Matters
This project highlights that health technology research must start with trust, shared power, and cultural safety. The authors encourage future researchers to prioritize connecting and building relationships before data collection begins.
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