Thinking outside the box: Aboriginal people’s suggestions for conducting health studies with Aboriginal communities

Summary Objectives Aboriginal people are under-represented in epidemiological research, largely due to past failures to engage and recruit Aboriginal communities, research fatigue and the use of culturally inappropriate methods. A qualitative study was undertaken in rural and urban Aboriginal commun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public health (London) 2011-11, Vol.125 (11), p.747-753
Main Authors: Maar, M.A, Lightfoot, N.E, Sutherland, M.E, Strasser, R.P, Wilson, K.J, Lidstone-Jones, C.M, Graham, D.G, Beaudin, R, Daybutch, G.A, Dokis, B.R, Lesage, M.T, Raymond, M, Williamson, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aboriginal health
Aborigines
Community-Based Participatory Research
Cultural Competency
Focus Groups
Health
Humans
Incentives
Indians, North American
Infectious Disease
Internal Medicine
Medical research
Methodology
Ontario
Participatory action research
Participatory research
Public Health - trends
Qualitative research
Research methods
Rural Population
Urban Population
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Summary:Summary Objectives Aboriginal people are under-represented in epidemiological research, largely due to past failures to engage and recruit Aboriginal communities, research fatigue and the use of culturally inappropriate methods. A qualitative study was undertaken in rural and urban Aboriginal communities in north-eastern and south-western Ontario to identify culturally congruent public health research methodologies. Study design A qualitative participatory research study using focus group discussions. Methods This study employed a participatory research framework to elicit methodological suggestions for conducting public health research with Aboriginal communities during focus groups with healthcare providers from six diverse Aboriginal health organizations in Ontario, Canada. Results Continuing requests for participation in health research studies have led to community exhaustion. Discussions explored appropriate methods to obtain community approval and support for a study, the need for cultural sensitivity training for researchers, the value of conducting studies of interest and benefit to the community, advantages and disadvantages of qualitative and quantitative studies, the benefit of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ethics reviews, the importance of safeguarding trusted information, types of incentives that may enhance study participation, suggestions to improve the collection of questionnaire information and biological specimens, how to resolve contentious issues and dissemination of study results. Conclusion In order to successfully engage Aboriginal people in health studies, researchers need to build rapport with communities, have a community presence, be respectful and collaborative, utilize incentives, and employ flexible and adaptive methodologies of reasonable length. Oral interviews are preferred to self-completed information. The use of more mixed methods methodologies was suggested when quantitative data collection is necessary. Communities expect presentations about research findings.
ISSN:0033-3506
1476-5616
DOI:10.1016/j.puhe.2011.08.006