Reaching historically marginalized populations

Client Needs

Sickle cell disease (SCD) disproportionately affects underserved and historically marginalized communities, where many patients and caregivers have fallen out of regular care, resulting in gaps in treatment continuity.

Our client aimed to re-engage these patients and caregivers to uncover authentic barriers to sustained care to unlock insights that go beyond rational explanations and reveal the deeper emotional, cultural, and logistical factors influencing engagement.

Achieving this required not only careful research design but also trust-building with communities that have historically experienced medical marginalization.

Our Solution

Our digital research space solution, Motivo Lab, built a purpose-driven space to foster trust, empathy, and authentic connection among SCD patients. Culturally responsive moderation validated lived experiences and encouraged authentic dialogue.
Various projective techniques fielded through Motivo Lab, uncovered unconscious motivations, systemic unmet needs, emotional inflection points, and provided an opportunity for co-creation of solutions to address barriers

Output & Implications

Successfully engaged populations typically absent from research, ensuring authentic, representative insights.
Revealed systemic, cultural, and psychosocial barriers beyond conventional access issues.
Identified drivers of engagement and trust-building opportunities resonating with marginalized communities.
Informed culturally tailored strategies to strengthen ongoing care, support, and program design.
Established a foundation for long-term community trust and sustainable dialogue between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.