September 4, 2024
Using a multi-step process, IMPACT Engaging Partners Team members describe the process used to discontinue the use of the term “stakeholder” in response to this term’s problematic colonial history.
Abstract
In this paper, authors describe their process of changing language of the National Institute on Aging Imbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer’s disease and AD-related dementias Clinical Trials Collaboratory (NIA IMPACT Collaboratory) “Stakeholder Engagement Team” to “Engaging Partners Team” in response to feedback from community partners regarding the problematic connotations of the term “stakeholder.” Authors present a brief history of the term “stakeholder” and its use in clinical and community-engaged research, summarize critiques of this term, and conclude with a detailed overview of the organization’s multi-step process for discontinuing use of the term “stakeholder,” in alignment with a theoretical model of organizational behavior change. This paper highlights the importance of critically evaluating language and responding to community partners.