A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exercise

Abstract Background Inclusive, generalisable research is vital to inform evidence‐based patient care. However, people from ethnic minority backgrounds remain underrepresented in research, increasing health disparities in under‐served communities. Objectives Codevelop a toolkit to increase the repres...

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Main Authors: S. P. Choy, M. Naveed, J. Prasad, K. Quadry, L. Moorhead, C. H. Smith, S. K. Mahil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:JEADV Clinical Practice
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.516
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author S. P. Choy
M. Naveed
J. Prasad
K. Quadry
L. Moorhead
C. H. Smith
S. K. Mahil
author_facet S. P. Choy
M. Naveed
J. Prasad
K. Quadry
L. Moorhead
C. H. Smith
S. K. Mahil
author_sort S. P. Choy
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Inclusive, generalisable research is vital to inform evidence‐based patient care. However, people from ethnic minority backgrounds remain underrepresented in research, increasing health disparities in under‐served communities. Objectives Codevelop a toolkit to increase the representation of people from ethnic minority groups in skin research. Methods Our four‐phase approach comprised: (1) focus group discussions with individuals from ethnic minority groups with skin diseases to identify barriers and enablers to participate in skin research, (2) a narrative literature review, (3) development of a skin research inclusion toolkit, (4) dissemination of findings. Results Focus group discussions (phase 1) identified a positive value model (belief in the value of research) and inclusive recruitment strategies (e.g. strong patient–recruiter relationships) as enablers to participation. Barriers included mistrust in research (e.g. poor information on personal data use) and social stigma of skin disease. Our narrative literature review (phase 2) reinforced these themes. Social stigma may accentuate feelings of shame or embarrassment associated with a skin condition. Mistrust is accentuated by a lack of information or understanding about research processes. Understanding distinct motivators for research participation across ethnic groups may help to cultivate a positive value model. Inclusive recruitment strategies should be codeveloped with populations of interest and culturally competent research teams to build lasting partnerships. Phases 1‐2 informed a skin research inclusion toolkit (phase 3), which recommends researchers formulate (i) an inclusion plan during study design (e.g. consider differences in pathophysiology of skin diseases across ethnic groups), (ii) inclusive enrolment strategies (e.g. skin‐of‐colour education to clinicians and patients to address disease‐associated stigma, codevelop study materials including translations) and (iii) retention strategies (e.g. time or travel reimbursement, timely feedback of findings). In phase 4, findings were disseminated to focus group participants. Conclusions Our co‐designed toolkit has the potential to improve ethnic diversity in skin research cohorts to enable more representative findings.
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spelling doaj-art-57f0cf4257c94a44bc16772830baf7f12024-12-02T13:08:37ZengWileyJEADV Clinical Practice2768-65662024-12-01351548155710.1002/jvc2.516A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exerciseS. P. Choy0M. Naveed1J. Prasad2K. Quadry3L. Moorhead4C. H. Smith5S. K. Mahil6St John's Institute of Dermatology Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust London UKSt John's Institute of Dermatology Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust London UKKing's College London London UKSt John's Institute of Dermatology Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust London UKSt John's Institute of Dermatology Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust London UKSt John's Institute of Dermatology Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust London UKSt John's Institute of Dermatology Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust London UKAbstract Background Inclusive, generalisable research is vital to inform evidence‐based patient care. However, people from ethnic minority backgrounds remain underrepresented in research, increasing health disparities in under‐served communities. Objectives Codevelop a toolkit to increase the representation of people from ethnic minority groups in skin research. Methods Our four‐phase approach comprised: (1) focus group discussions with individuals from ethnic minority groups with skin diseases to identify barriers and enablers to participate in skin research, (2) a narrative literature review, (3) development of a skin research inclusion toolkit, (4) dissemination of findings. Results Focus group discussions (phase 1) identified a positive value model (belief in the value of research) and inclusive recruitment strategies (e.g. strong patient–recruiter relationships) as enablers to participation. Barriers included mistrust in research (e.g. poor information on personal data use) and social stigma of skin disease. Our narrative literature review (phase 2) reinforced these themes. Social stigma may accentuate feelings of shame or embarrassment associated with a skin condition. Mistrust is accentuated by a lack of information or understanding about research processes. Understanding distinct motivators for research participation across ethnic groups may help to cultivate a positive value model. Inclusive recruitment strategies should be codeveloped with populations of interest and culturally competent research teams to build lasting partnerships. Phases 1‐2 informed a skin research inclusion toolkit (phase 3), which recommends researchers formulate (i) an inclusion plan during study design (e.g. consider differences in pathophysiology of skin diseases across ethnic groups), (ii) inclusive enrolment strategies (e.g. skin‐of‐colour education to clinicians and patients to address disease‐associated stigma, codevelop study materials including translations) and (iii) retention strategies (e.g. time or travel reimbursement, timely feedback of findings). In phase 4, findings were disseminated to focus group participants. Conclusions Our co‐designed toolkit has the potential to improve ethnic diversity in skin research cohorts to enable more representative findings.https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.516ethnic diversityhealth disparitiesinclusion toolkitresearch participationskin research
spellingShingle S. P. Choy
M. Naveed
J. Prasad
K. Quadry
L. Moorhead
C. H. Smith
S. K. Mahil
A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exercise
JEADV Clinical Practice
ethnic diversity
health disparities
inclusion toolkit
research participation
skin research
title A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exercise
title_full A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exercise
title_fullStr A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exercise
title_full_unstemmed A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exercise
title_short A toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations: A co‐designed, mixed methods refinement exercise
title_sort toolkit to facilitate skin research participation in underrepresented ethnic populations a co designed mixed methods refinement exercise
topic ethnic diversity
health disparities
inclusion toolkit
research participation
skin research
url https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.516
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