5 research outputs found
Using participatory learning & action research to access and engage with âhard to reachâ migrants in primary healthcare research
Background: Communication problems occur in general practice consultations when migrants and general practitioners do not share a common language and culture. Migrants\u27 perspectives have rarely been included in the development of guidelines designed to ameliorate this. Considered \u27hard-to-reach\u27 on the basis of inaccessibility, language discordance and cultural difference, migrants have been consistently excluded from participation in primary healthcare research. The purpose of this qualitative study was to address this gap.
Methods: The study was conducted in the Republic of Ireland, 2009 2011. We developed a multi-lingual community-university research team that included seven established migrants from local communities. They completed training in Participatory Learning & Action (PLA) -a qualitative research methodology. Then, as trained service-user peer researchers (SUPERs) they used their access routes, language skills, cultural knowledge and innovative PLA techniques to recruit and engage in research with fifty-one hard-to-reach migrant service-users (MSUs).
Results & discussion: In terms of access, university researchers successfully accessed SUPERs, who, in turn, successfully accessed, recruited and retained MSUs in the study. In terms of meaningful engagement, SUPERs facilitated a complex PLA research process in a language-concordant manner, enabling inclusion and active participation by MSUs. This ensured that MSUs\u27 perspectives were included in the development of a guideline for improving communication between healthcare providers and MSUs in Ireland. SUPERs evaluated their experiences of capacity-building, training, research fieldwork and dissemination as positively meaningful for them. MSUs evaluated their experiences of engagement in PLA fieldwork and research as positively meaningful for them.
Conclusions: Given the need to build primary healthcare \u27from the ground up\u27, the perspectives of diverse groups, especially the hard-to-reach, must become a normative part of primary healthcare research. PLA is a powerful, practical \u27fit-for-purpose\u27 methodology for achieving this: enabling hard-to-reach groups to engage meaningfully and contribute with ease to academic research. PLA has significant potential to become a \u27standard\u27 or generic approach in building community-based primary health care. Community-university partnerships have a significant role to play in this, with capacity to radically influence the shape of healthcare research, expanding the research agenda to incorporate the views and needs of hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations
Using participatory learning & action research to access and engage with âhard to reachâ migrants in primary healthcare research
Background: Communication problems occur in general practice consultations when migrants and general practitioners do not share a common language and culture. Migrants' perspectives have rarely been included in the development of guidelines designed to ameliorate this. Considered 'hard-to-reach' on the basis of inaccessibility, language discordance and cultural difference, migrants have been consistently excluded from participation in primary healthcare research. The purpose of this qualitative study was to address this gap.
Methods: The study was conducted in the Republic of Ireland, 2009 2011. We developed a multi-lingual community-university research team that included seven established migrants from local communities. They completed training in Participatory Learning & Action (PLA) -a qualitative research methodology. Then, as trained service-user peer researchers (SUPERs) they used their access routes, language skills, cultural knowledge and innovative PLA techniques to recruit and engage in research with fifty-one hard-to-reach migrant service-users (MSUs).
Results & discussion: In terms of access, university researchers successfully accessed SUPERs, who, in turn, successfully accessed, recruited and retained MSUs in the study. In terms of meaningful engagement, SUPERs facilitated a complex PLA research process in a language-concordant manner, enabling inclusion and active participation by MSUs. This ensured that MSUs' perspectives were included in the development of a guideline for improving communication between healthcare providers and MSUs in Ireland. SUPERs evaluated their experiences of capacity-building, training, research fieldwork and dissemination as positively meaningful for them. MSUs evaluated their experiences of engagement in PLA fieldwork and research as positively meaningful for them.
Conclusions: Given the need to build primary healthcare 'from the ground up', the perspectives of diverse groups, especially the hard-to-reach, must become a normative part of primary healthcare research. PLA is a powerful, practical 'fit-for-purpose' methodology for achieving this: enabling hard-to-reach groups to engage meaningfully and contribute with ease to academic research. PLA has significant potential to become a 'standard' or generic approach in building community-based primary health care. Community-university partnerships have a significant role to play in this, with capacity to radically influence the shape of healthcare research, expanding the research agenda to incorporate the views and needs of hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations
Involving migrants in the development of guidelines for communication in cross-cultural general practice consultations: a participatory learning and action research project
Objective: The aim of this research was to involve migrants and other key stakeholders in a participatory dialogue to develop a guideline for enhancing communication in cross-cultural general practice consultations. In this paper, we focus on findings about the use of formal versus informal interpreters because dialogues about these issues emerged as central to the identification of recommendations for best practice.
Design: This qualitative case study involved a Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) research methodology.
Participants: The sample comprised 80 stakeholders: 51 from migrant communities; 15 general practitioners (GPs) and general practice staff; 7 established migrants as peer researchers; 5 formal, trained interpreters; and 2 service planners from the national health authority.
Setting: Galway, Ireland.
Results: There was 100% consensus across stakeholder groups that while informal interpreters have uses for migrants and general practice staff, they are not considered acceptable as best practice. There was also 100% consensus that formal interpreters who are trained and working as per a professional code of practice are acceptable as best practice.
Conclusions: Policymakers and service planners need to work in partnership with service providers and migrants to progress the implementation of professional, trained interpreters as a routine way of working in general practice
Involving migrants in the development of guidelines for communication in cross-cultural general practice consultations: a participatory learning and action research project
Objective: The aim of this research was to involve migrants and other key stakeholders in a participatory dialogue to develop a guideline for enhancing communication in cross-cultural general practice consultations. In this paper, we focus on findings about the use of formal versus informal interpreters because dialogues about these issues emerged as central to the identification of recommendations for best practice.Design: This qualitative case study involved a Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) research methodology.Participants: The sample comprised 80 stakeholders: 51 from migrant communities; 15 general practitioners (GPs) and general practice staff; 7 established migrants as peer researchers; 5 formal, trained interpreters; and 2 service planners from the national health authority.Setting: Galway, Ireland.Results: There was 100% consensus across stakeholder groups that while informal interpreters have uses for migrants and general practice staff, they are not considered acceptable as best practice. There was also 100% consensus that formal interpreters who are trained and working as per a professional code of practice are acceptable as best practice.Conclusions: Policymakers and service planners need to work in partnership with service providers and migrants to progress the implementation of professional, trained interpreters as a routine way of working in general practice
Using participatory learning & action research to access and engage with âhard to reachâ migrants in primary healthcare research
Communication problems occur in general practice consultations when migrants and general
practitioners do not share a common language and culture. Migrantsâ perspectives have rarely been included in the
development of guidelines designed to ameliorate this. Considered âhard-to-reachâ on the basis of inaccessibility,
language discordance and cultural difference, migrants have been consistently excluded from participation in
primary healthcare research. The purpose of this qualitative study was to address this gap.
Methods: The study was conducted in the Republic of Ireland, 2009 â 2011. We developed a multi-lingual
community-university research team that included seven established migrants from local communities. They
completed training in Participatory Learning & Action (PLA) - a qualitative research methodology. Then, as trained
service-user peer researchers (SUPERs) they used their access routes, language skills, cultural knowledge and
innovative PLA techniques to recruit and engage in research with fifty-one hard-to-reach migrant service-users
(MSUs).
Results & discussion: In terms of access, university researchers successfully accessed SUPERs, who, in turn,
successfully accessed, recruited and retained MSUs in the study. In terms of meaningful engagement, SUPERs
facilitated a complex PLA research process in a language-concordant manner, enabling inclusion and active
participation by MSUs. This ensured that MSUsâ perspectives were included in the development of a guideline for
improving communication between healthcare providers and MSUs in Ireland. SUPERs evaluated their experiences
of capacity-building, training, research fieldwork and dissemination as positively meaningful for them. MSUs
evaluated their experiences of engagement in PLA fieldwork and research as positively meaningful for them.
Given the need to build primary healthcare âfrom the ground upâ, the perspectives of diverse groups,
especially the hard-to-reach, must become a normative part of primary healthcare research. PLA is a powerful,
practical âfit-for-purposeâ methodology for achieving this: enabling hard-to-reach groups to engage meaningfully
and contribute with ease to academic research. PLA has significant potential to become a âstandardâ or generic
approach in building community-based primary health care. Communityâuniversity partnerships have a significant
role to play in this, with capacity to radically influence the shape of healthcare research, expanding the research
agenda to incorporate the views and needs of hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations