Engaging Stakeholders to Define Research Priorities and Build a Research Community to Reduce Obesity Among Hispanic Women in the Southeastern United States.

Obesity disproportionately affects Hispanic women in the United States, particularly in underserved communities within the southeast. This project aimed to build infrastructure for patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) to address obesity among Hispanic women in the southeastern United States. A three-phase approach, led by a core team of five, was implemented to engage 35 stakeholders, including Hispanic women, family members, community leaders, and healthcare providers. Phase 1 involved bilingual, culturally tailored workshops focused on Hispanic health, obesity, and research methods to train stakeholders to engage in PCOR. In Phase 2, stakeholders collaboratively developed and prioritized 18 PCOR questions across 12 topical areas, with key concerns focused on language barriers, alternative therapies, and obesity. Additional priorities included mental health, chronic disease management, nutrition, and women's health. Phase 3 focused on establishing a sustainable research community to support ongoing engagement and address the PCOR questions. This initiative laid the foundation for continued PCOR efforts, strengthened partnerships, and empowered stakeholders to guide future research. The project offers a replicable model for developing community-driven research infrastructure to improve health outcomes and advance equity among Hispanic women in similar settings.