Community engagement in the development of health-related data visualizations: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to address a gap in the literature on community engagement in developing data visualizations intended to improve population health. The review objectives are to: (1) synthesize literature on the types of community engagement activities conducted by researchers working with community partners and (2) characterize instances of "creative data literacy" within data visualizations developed in community-researcher partnerships.

METHODS

Using the 2018 PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, the review focuses on peer-reviewed journal articles from 2010 to 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. A community engagement tool was applied to the studies by independent reviewers to classify levels of community engagement, social determinants, and vulnerable populations.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven articles were included in the scoping review. Twelve articles worked with vulnerable populations. Four articles attempted to alleviate barriers to representation in their respective studies, with addressing language barriers being the most prevalent approach. Thirteen articles considered social determinants of health. Sixteen studies engaged in iterative approaches with intended users when developing the visualization or tool.

DISCUSSION

Only a few significant examples of creative data literacy are incorporated in the studies. We recommend a specific focus on engaging intended users at every step of the development process, addressing language and cultural differences, and empowering intended users as data storytellers.

CONCLUSIONS

There is room for deeper and more meaningful community involvement in the development of health-related data visualizations geared towards them.

The Role of Acculturation and Social Capital in Access to Health Care: A Meta-study on Hispanics in the US

A meta-study of 83 articles published from 1981 to 2016 was conducted on Hispanics access to health care in the US. Few of these studies have included acculturation and even fewer the role of social capital as important factors that impact healthcare access for this population. Among those that do include these two factors, there is confusion as to how they are defined and operationalized. Acculturation and social capital could serve to overcome some of the structural barriers in place that manifest stronger among Hispanics who are relatively newcomers to a healthcare system that is highly complex to navigate. The majority of studies included in this systematic review of the literature are in public health journals, which do not focus on sociological aspects as much. This study exposes the need to expand the worldviews used in the literature in order to enrich our understanding of access to health care for Hispanics.

Social Position Variables of Specific Learning Disabilities: A National Perspective

This article examined the association between social position variables (i.e., Hispanic, health insurance coverage, and poverty rates) on the prevalence of specific learning disabilities (SLD) in students between 3 and 21 years of age. We used the 2012 to 2013 U.S. population data from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Program, and the American Community Survey for the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. Results indicate that states with higher rates of Hispanics were related to higher rates of SLD, while lower rates of no health insurance coverage were related to lower SLD rates. We conclude that Hispanic students are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with SLD, while having no health insurance coverage might be a detriment to be properly diagnosed. The importance of a national perspective in disabilities and the role of social position variables on special education are discussed.

Communication resources for obesity prevention among African American and Latino residents in an urban neighborhood

African Americans and Latinos are at disproportionately high risk for obesity and for the chronic conditions and diseases associated with it. This study uses communication infrastructure theory to explore how connections to neighborhood communication resources and communication with family members can affect residents' regular exercise and healthy eating behaviors-two of the most direct strategies for achieving or maintaining a healthy weight. Regression analyses revealed that connections to the neighborhood storytelling network and family interaction predicted residents' regular exercise and that family interaction had the strongest effect on the likelihood of exercising regularly. Family interaction was the only independent variable that predicted residents' daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Implications of these findings for community health programs and theory development are discussed.

Assessing Colorectal Cancer Screening Behaviors and Knowledge among At-Risk Hispanics in Southern New Mexico

Purpose

Colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates in New Mexico (NM) continue to be higher than national rates. Hispanic CRC mortality rates in NM surpass those of overall Hispanics in the US. This study was designed to characterize and understand factors contributing to low CRC screening rates in this border region.

Methods

A CRC Knowledge Assessment Survey (KAS) was administered in either English or Spanish to 247 individuals attending community events throughout southern NM. A subset of these individuals completed an online CRC risk assessment survey managed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Data analysis tested for significant differences in knowledge, physician-patient CRC interactions, CRC risk level perception, and screening rates across diverse ethnic and age groups.

Results

Both CRC knowledge and physician-patient CRC interactions were positively associated with participant screening history. Significant age and ethnic differences for CRC knowledge, physician-patient CRC interactions, and screening history in the NM border sample were also seen. Age-eligible Hispanics (50+) as well as those less than 50 years of age had lower CRC knowledge and were less likely to engage in physician-patient CRC interactions than non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). The age-eligible Hispanics also reported lower CRC screening rates than their NHW counterparts.

Conclusions

Low CRC knowledge and limited physician-patient CRC interactions appear to contribute to low screening rates in this NM population. Expanding education and outreach efforts for this border population are essential to promote early CRC detection and thereby decrease overall CRC mortality rates.