As we move from race-based medicine to thinking about race as a social construct, we recognize that we need to do better when it comes to research. How do we conduct equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) research in a way that has equity at its core without causing harm or offense to communities that have been traditionally marginalized?
This week, Pediatrics is early releasing a Special Article by Sabra Katz-Wise, PhD, Snehal Shah, MD, and colleagues from Harvard University, entitled “Establishing a Pediatric Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Research Review Process” (10.1542/peds.2023-062946).
The authors describe their experience at Boston Children’s Hospital, which has embedded a supplemental EDI review process into its existing institutional review board (IRB) review process. They wanted to assure that:
- The research questions and design do not perpetuate bias.
- There is intentional recruitment of diverse populations.
- There is input into study design by members of the specific community.
This was a learn-as-you-go process for everyone involved. The authors describe how 86% of protocols that underwent the EDI review process received recommendations or requirements to improve EDI-related aspects of the study. And in the process, they were able to develop standard recommendations for conducting EDI research.
As is discussed in Dr. Furman’s blog this month about trends in the discussion of race in Pediatrics articles in the past 75 years, we have much work to do in this regard. Efforts such as this one at Boston Children’s are helping us all to become better researchers.
Please read this thoughtful article to learn how you can improve EDI research in your own institution.
