Hilliard-Boone, Tandrea, Firminger, Kirsten, Dutta, Tania, Cowans, Tamika, DePatie, Holly, Maurer, Maureen, Schultz, Ellen, Castro-Reyes, Paige, Richmond, Al, Muhammad, Michael, Pathak-Sen, Ela, and Powell, Wizdom
Objective: To advance equity by developing stakeholder-driven principles of shared measurement, which is using a common set of measurable goals that reflect shared priorities across communities and systems, such as health care, public health, and human and social services. Data Sources: From October 2019 to July 2021, we collected primary data from leaders in cross-systems alignment, measurement, and community engagement-including community members and community-based organization leaders-across the United States. Study Design: In partnership with equity and community engagement experts, we conducted a mixed-methods study that included multiple formative research activities and culminated in a six-week, stakeholder-engaged modified-Delphi process. Data Collection: Formative data collection occurred through an environmental scan, interviews, focus groups, and an online survey. Principles were developed using a virtual modified Delphi with iterative rapid-analysis. Feedback on the final principles was collected through virtual focus groups, an online feedback form, and during virtual presentations. Principal Findings: We developed a set of five guiding principles. Measurement that aligns systems with communities toward equitable outcomes: (1) Requires upfront investment in communities; (2) Is co-created by communities; (3) Creates accountability to communities for addressing root causes of inequities and repairing harm; (4) Focuses on a holistic and comprehensive view of communities that highlights assets and historical context; and (5) Reflects long-term efforts to build trust. Using an equity-focused process resulted in principles with broad applicability. Conclusions: Leaders across systems and communities can use these shared measurement principles to reimagine and transform how systems create equitable health by centering the needs and priorities of the communities they serve, particularly communities that historically have been harmed the most by inequities. Intentionally centering equity across all project activities was essential to producing principles that could guide others in advancing equity. KEYWORDS community health, community participation, Delphi technique, health equity, intersectoral collaboration, measurement, social determinants of health What is known on this topic * Achieving health equity requires creating aligned systems that work together with communities to meet their goals and needs. * A shared measurement system is essential to align efforts around outcomes, evaluate collective progress, improve the quality and credibility of data, and reduce costs associated with collecting and reporting data. What this study adds * Building shared measurement into systems' structure enables sustained progress toward equitable outcomes through redistribution of power, building partnerships, creating accountability to communities, and facilitating co-learning. * Five guiding principles show how community members, community-based organizations, system leaders, service providers, and policy makers can use shared measurement to align decisions, policies, and practices toward equitable health and well-being. * We found that how we approached the work--with the intention of centering equity across all project activities--was essential to producing principles that could themselves guide others in advancing equity., 1 | INTRODUCTION Achieving lasting and meaningful improvements in individual and population health requires aligning efforts across various systems--organizations, programs, and activities--within communities that directly influence the health and well-being [...]