Researching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.

In this article we reflect on the recruitment of research participants to two related studies of experiences of mental health problems in Black and minority ethnic communities in the United Kingdom. A total of 65 people were recruited via three main strategies: the employment of bicultural recruiter...

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Main Authors: Rugkåsa, J, Canvin, K
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2011
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author Rugkåsa, J
Canvin, K
author_facet Rugkåsa, J
Canvin, K
author_sort Rugkåsa, J
collection OXFORD
description In this article we reflect on the recruitment of research participants to two related studies of experiences of mental health problems in Black and minority ethnic communities in the United Kingdom. A total of 65 people were recruited via three main strategies: the employment of bicultural recruiters, intensive information sharing about the studies, and work through local community groups. Three main issues seemed to affect recruitment: gatekeepers' attitudes, the (non)payment of participants, and reciprocal arrangements with local community groups. The type of strategy employed resulted in recruits with differing characteristics (although our sample was too small to draw generalizable conclusions). We conclude that to ensure that research participation is accessible to all, researchers must employ flexible recruitment methods that permit adaptation to specific needs arising out of health status, level of involvement with services, culture, and socioeconomic status. Systematic research into this part of the research process is needed.
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spelling oxford-uuid:05ccb071-4cbb-445a-b148-6ec71b3761772022-03-26T08:59:06ZResearching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:05ccb071-4cbb-445a-b148-6ec71b376177EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2011Rugkåsa, JCanvin, KIn this article we reflect on the recruitment of research participants to two related studies of experiences of mental health problems in Black and minority ethnic communities in the United Kingdom. A total of 65 people were recruited via three main strategies: the employment of bicultural recruiters, intensive information sharing about the studies, and work through local community groups. Three main issues seemed to affect recruitment: gatekeepers' attitudes, the (non)payment of participants, and reciprocal arrangements with local community groups. The type of strategy employed resulted in recruits with differing characteristics (although our sample was too small to draw generalizable conclusions). We conclude that to ensure that research participation is accessible to all, researchers must employ flexible recruitment methods that permit adaptation to specific needs arising out of health status, level of involvement with services, culture, and socioeconomic status. Systematic research into this part of the research process is needed.
spellingShingle Rugkåsa, J
Canvin, K
Researching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.
title Researching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.
title_full Researching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.
title_fullStr Researching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.
title_full_unstemmed Researching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.
title_short Researching mental health in minority ethnic communities: reflections on recruitment.
title_sort researching mental health in minority ethnic communities reflections on recruitment
work_keys_str_mv AT rugkasaj researchingmentalhealthinminorityethniccommunitiesreflectionsonrecruitment
AT canvink researchingmentalhealthinminorityethniccommunitiesreflectionsonrecruitment