Table 1 REP-EQUITY toolkit checklist

Participant and site sampling

1. What are the relevant underserved groups?

Identify relevant groups and/or characteristics using available data^33,34 and additional expertise^28,32, depending on sites of interest or availability of sites^27,32. Use this to inform and justify the choice of personal data to be collected from participants.

Objectives

2. What is the aim in relation to representativeness and equity?

Define the aim in terms of whether it is to test hypotheses about possible differences by underserved characteristic(s), generate hypotheses about possible differences by underserved characteristic(s), or ensure a just and equitable distribution of the risks and benefits of participation in research³¹.

Participant and site sampling

3. How will the sample proportion of individuals with underserved characteristics be defined?

Justify the chosen proportion in terms of comparability across studies, generalizability to population(s) of interest, distribution and equity impact of the risks and benefits of research participation, and feasibility of approach³⁰.

Participant and site sampling

4. What are the recruitment goals?

Define recruitment goals in terms of requirements for statistical power calculations, exploratory analyses, generalizability^30,31 and how they might be practically and ethically realized³⁰.

Participant and site sampling

5. How will external factors be managed?

Formulate strategies to mediate external factors that may influence whether efforts to capture an equitable and representative sample can be realized³⁰.

Analyses

6. How will representation be evaluated?

State the means for evaluation (for example, match with a priori recruitment goal^30,31 or available data, compare to available data to establish the impact on equity in terms of burdens and benefits of research participation^30,31).

Impact and dissemination

7. What will be the legacy?

Plan for lasting outputs (for example, advisory groups³², participant registries³³, relationships with communities^28,32); transparently report the use of the toolkit and data and/or findings relating to underserved groups.