Researching minoritised communities in palliative care
3rd November 2022
Researchers are calling for improvements in the conduct and reporting of ethnically diverse communities in palliative care research. There is evidence that health experiences and outcomes of care disadvantage those from ethnically diverse, Indigenous, First nation and First people communities. Inequalities and inequity are well recognised but inadequately addressed. In the generation and reporting of research evidence, palliative care researchers play a vital part in influencing service provision, clinical practice and discussion of ways to reduce inequity. However, this is associated with significant methodological, conceptual and ethical challenges. Without honest discussion of these issues, progress remains stymied and racism persists.
The recommendations proposed by this review constitute the basis for guidance for the conception, conduct and reporting of ethnically diverse, Indigenous, First nation and First people communities in palliative care research. The writers suggest they serve as a guide for researchers undertaking studies that focus on these communities, for authors publishing them, as well as for reviewers and journal editors when evaluating the quality of the study design and the transparency of reporting.
Koffman J, Bajwah S, Davies JM, Hussain JA. Researching minoritised communities in palliative care: An agenda for change. Palliat Med. 2022 Oct 21:2692163221132091. doi: 10.1177/02692163221132091. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36271636.