N18 Facilitating involvement of patients from ethnic minority groups in research: experiences of offering patients a choice of interviewer
S. MUKHERJEE, B. Beresford
University of York, Social Policy and Social Work, York, UK
Background
Recruitment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients from an ethnic minority background to research is known to be very low. It has been suggested that interviewer characteristics may affect the willingness of individuals to take part in research, with some researchers advocating ethnicity and gender matching. A study on UK South Asian adults’ experiences of living with IBD provided an opportunity to explore these methodological issues further.
Methods
The study comprised qualitative interviews with adult patients with IBD identifying themselves as Indian/British Indian, Pakistani/British Pakistani, and Bangladeshi/British Bangladeshi. They were recruited from five clinics across England. Rather than presupposing what participants’ preferences might be, patients were offered a choice of interviewer in terms of the following characteristics: gender, shared experience (or not) of IBD, ethnicity and language (Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Mirpuri, Punjabi, Urdu). These interviewers were a particular type of ‘peer researcher’; distinctive in that they are a professional researchers and assumptions have not been made about the ‘peer’ characteristic which is most pertinent to study participants.
Results
Adopting this study design required strategic planning in terms of resources and research management. Recruitment to the study was good, with over 40% of those invited (
Conclusion
The study achieved an above average recruitment rate, the sampling frame was achieved, and rich data was generated. The research team intend to adopt a similar approach in future studies where it is anticipated recruitment to the study may be challenging and the topics for discussion are sensitive.