"It's research, our input can grow": identifying health research priorities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities-study protocol.

BACKGROUND

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) families have strong, cohesive, and nurturing cultural practices that contribute to effective family functioning and child rearing. These practices can lead to positive effects on children and communities, and include kinship relations, traditional knowledge systems, collective community focus, respect for Elders contributions, and spirituality. However, poor health and wellbeing outcomes exist across the lifespan for Indigenous Australians. Health programs, services and research that support Indigenous women, babies and their families are a critical investment to improve birthing and health outcomes and impact the life trajectories of Indigenous Australians.

AIM

The Indigenous Health Research Priorities study aims to identify the research priorities for families during the perinatal and early childhood period through a co-designed and collaborative process. This has been led by communities to determine the priorities identified with and for local Indigenous families in Queensland. This paper aims to report on engagement and involvement with Indigenous communities to identity health research priorities for families and presents preliminary findings of the research process including participants' demographic information and feedback on the yarning sessions, as part of the study protocol.

METHODS

The study protocol showcases the Participatory Action Research approach, yarning sessions with clients and staff of three community-controlled health services to date, and Delphi workshop methods to prioritise the health issues identified during the yarns with corresponding communities. The study will undertake qualitative data collection and analysis to identify and report on community and health service research priorities for Indigenous families in Queensland. A short survey was conducted to collect participants' demographic information. A feedback form with five open-ended questions was also administered to collect data on participants' views and satisfaction with the research process.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

This protocol paper reports on the participant demographic information and feedback on the research process and reactions to participating in the yarning sessions. There have been 12 yarning sessions in Far North Queensland to date. The qualitative analysis of these will be reported on in future, with South East Queensland and further sites to follow. Feedback from 61 community members and health professionals has highlighted they valued sharing stories, being heard, and feeling hopeful. Preliminary findings will be reported.

DISCUSSION

Identification of health research priorities will allow each organisation and region of Queensland to develop research initiatives and the translational outcomes that are a focus for their community members.

Health programs and services designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (herein Indigenous) women, babies and their families are a critical investment to improve birthing and health outcomes, and potentially impact the life course of Indigenous Australians. The Indigenous Health Research Priorities study aims to identify research priorities for families during pregnancy, birthing, and early childhood through a collaborative consultation process. We engaged with community members, both clients and health care staff of three community-controlled health services in Far North Queensland. Yarning sessions were held to identify health research priorities with and for local Indigenous families. Feedback forms were collected to gauge engagement and satisfaction with the research process. Twelve yarning sessions with 61 participants highlighted they valued sharing stories, being heard, having a voice, and feeling hopeful. Identifying health research priorities will allow each organisation and region of Queensland to develop health programs and services and research initiatives that are important for their community members.Once the yarning group data is analysed, we will return to discuss, prioritise, and reach consensus on those health issues identified during the yarns with communities, using a Delphi study. The Delphi will run as an interactive workshop using playing cards and group discussions, where participants will rank the importance of the health issues for their community. Prioritising the top 10 health issues will help to ensure research is designed better for and with communities, so that future research directions meet the needs identified and self-determined by Indigenous communities.

Informations de copyright

© 2023. The Author(s).