Empowering Researchers with Inclusive Language: The Equitable Language Cheat Sheet by Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda

Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, cochair of the Health Equity Core at the NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory, played a crucial role in developing an essential resource for researchers: the Equitable Language Cheat Sheet. This document provides guidance on using inclusive language when referring to specific individuals, groups, and communities. It is available on the Health Equity Core webpage and will be regularly updated to reflect changes in terminology and best practices.

According to Dr. Gonzalez-Guarda, it is vital to respect the personal preferences of individuals and communities when collaborating with them in research settings. The cheat sheet serves as a reference guide for researchers, offering essential guidelines for instances where direct input on preferred language is not available. Dr. Gonzalez-Guarda hopes that this tool will be valuable for researchers and partners working towards promoting health equity.

The Equitable Language Cheat Sheet includes preferred terminology for various identities, such as age, race and ethnicity, gender, differing abilities, substance abuse, underserved populations, and partners of focus. The Health Equity Core aims to help pragmatic trials incorporate a health equity lens in their research, identify barriers to this integration, and develop strategies and tools to advance health equity. This living document aligns with the Core’s mission of overcoming biases and promoting health equity within pragmatic research.

To learn more about the Health Equity Core’s work or access the Equitable Language Cheat Sheet, visit their webpage today!