Table 2 Thematic summary of strategies to incorporate equity in health behavior interventions that integrate theory (n = 26)

Role of Theory

The extent to which theoretical constructs inform intervention activities

a. Constructs informed activities and design (20)

[3,4,5, 7, 10, 26, 29, 35,36,37,38, 43, 44, 48, 51, 54, 57, 61, 64, 65]

b. Constructs were measured as outcomes (17)

[3, 7, 10, 11, 16, 20, 29, 35, 36, 38, 42, 43, 48, 51, 57, 61, 64],

c. Constructs directly applied to intervention activities (4)

[11, 20, 36, 39]

Consideration of Structural Influences

How researchers and participants recognize and adapt based on broader structural influences

a. Multi-level approaches (individual, interpersonal, community, society) (15)

[7, 11, 16, 29, 36,37,38,39, 42, 44, 48, 57, 61, 65]

b. Critical reflections of structural influences (social norms, discrimination oppressive systems, intersectionality, gender roles) (11)

[5, 10, 16, 29, 36,37,38, 42, 44, 51, 57]

Community-based Practices

How community members are organized to drive or support the outcomes of the intervention

How established principles and practices are used to distribute power, elevate voices, culturally adapt content, and promote co-learning

a. Role of Community Members

o Community Advisory Boards (rated on a scale of 1–5 using the Spectrum of Community Engagement) (19)

[3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 26, 29, 35, 36, 38, 39, 42, 44, 48, 51, 57, 60, 64, 65]

o Community Health Workers (as informants, coordination, delivery, facilitation) (11)

[3, 7, 10, 11, 20, 37, 42, 44, 60, 61]

o Community Members, Influential leaders (as ambassadors or facilitators) (6)

[7, 37, 38, 48, 60, 64],

b. Equity principles

o Established history of partnership (trust, time intensive, prior studies, -OR- lack of trust) (15)

[4, 10, 16, 20, 29, 35,36,37, 43, 44, 48, 57, 60, 64, 65]

o Principles for sharing power (transparency, decision making, conflict resolution, co-leading) (8)

[4, 11, 29, 37, 48, 57, 60, 65]

o Accommodations (scheduling, childcare), compensation for participants (7)

[4, 10, 35, 48, 54, 60, 65]

c. Equitable practices

o Materials, activities, and content reflect social norms and values (cultural relevance) (18)

[3, 5, 11, 20, 26, 35,36,37,38, 42, 44, 48, 51, 57, 60, 61, 65]

o Researchers shared characteristics of population (language, ethnicity) (9)

[16, 20, 29, 35, 37, 44, 48, 51, 54]

o Standardized process for integrating feedback (9)

[3,4,5, 10, 11, 26, 36, 37, 51]

o Participant/community involvement in research, methods (literature review, evaluation tools, understanding theory) (6)

[4, 11, 29, 57, 60, 65]

o Community identified project priorities (5)

[26, 29, 35, 57, 65]

o Skill-building among community members (ability to address future issues) (2)

[60, 65]