Working together to ensure research conducted with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples is culturally appropriate illustrated using a pharmacy-intervention study

Abstract

Background: Historically, health research conducted in Australia with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples has not been requested by communities. Health policies cite evidence for inclusive care including cultural perspectives. Aim: To determine if the design and implementation of a pharmacist-led diabetes screening study was culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples admitted to a metropolitan hospital, located in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Method: Data were drawn from four components: (1) timeline and key steps to develop the study, (2) study alignment with the NSW Aboriginal health ethics guidelines: key principles, (3) elements and processes of bicultural care, and (4) the extent of community participation. Ethical approval was granted by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (Reference no: #1709/20) and the St Vincent's Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference no: #2020/ETH01314) and the study conforms to the Australian National statement on ethical conduct in human research. In the original intervention study, informed consent was obtained from all participants via distribution of a project information sheet and completion of a written consent form. Results: The process to design and implement the larger study demonstrated cultural appropriateness across four analyses. Strengths included involvement from knowledge holders and Aboriginal clinician-researchers. Analyses illustrated respect for community priorities as central to the research process. This required sufficient time for respectful conversations, formation of strong partnerships, and reciprocity. Future studies should ensure time is set aside to build relationships with patients in concept building and design phases. Results cannot be generalised to another hospital. However, study findings could inform diabetes care efforts in other hospital settings. Conclusion: Respectful, non-rushed two-way communication was crucial to the cultural appropriateness of the study. This study offers suggestions for pharmacists wishing to conduct research in this area. Future research is needed to incorporate Indigenous research methodologies into study designs and to apply the Australian Bicultural Care model to other clinical settings.