'We're here to listen and help them as well': A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services

Sara Farnbach; Graham Gee; Anne Marie Eades; John Robert Evans; Jamie Fernando; Belinda Hammond; Matty Simms; Karrina Demasi; Maree L. Hackett; Armando Teixeira-Pinto; Nick Glozier; Timothy Skinner; Deborah Askew; Alan Cass; Alex Brown

doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2263-8

'We're here to listen and help them as well': A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services

Sara Farnbach^*, Graham Gee, Anne Marie Eades, John Robert Evans, Jamie Fernando, Belinda Hammond, Matty Simms, Karrina Demasi, Maree L. Hackett, Armando Teixeira-Pinto, Nick Glozier, Timothy Skinner, Deborah Askew, Alan Cass, Alex Brown

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Background: Research can inform culturally-appropriate care to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter, the term 'Indigenous Peoples' is respectfully used and refers to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia). We acknowledge the cultural diversity of Australia's Indigenous First Peoples and they do not represent a homogenous group.) (hereafter Indigenous) Peoples. We explore the perspectives of primary healthcare staff and Indigenous patients about their willingness to and experiences participating in SEWB research. Method: Process evaluation using grounded theory approaches of Getting it Right: The validation study, a national validation designed Indigenous SEWB research project (N = 500). Primary healthcare staff (n = 36) and community members (n = 4) from nine of ten primary healthcare services involved with the research project completed qualitative semi-structured interviews. Interview data were triangulated with participant feedback (responses to structured questions and free-text feedback collected during Getting it Right), study administrative data (participant screening logs, communication logs, study protocol, deviation logs and ethics correspondence) and interviewer field notes. Results: Three themes about staff, patient and community perspectives concerning research participation developed: (1) considering the needs, risk, preferences and impact of participation in research for staff, patients and community; (2) building staff confidence speaking to patients about research and SEWB problems and (3) patients speaking openly about their SEWB. Some staff described pressure to ensure patients had a positive experience with the research, to respond appropriately if patients became upset or SEWB problems were identified during interviews, or due to their dual role as community member and researcher. Patients and staff reported that patients were more likely to participate if they knew the staff outside of the service, especially staff with a shared cultural background, and they perceived SEWB as a community priority. Staff reported their skills speaking to patients about the research and SEWB improved during the research, which built their confidence. Contrary to staff preconceptions, staff and patients reported that many patients appreciated the opportunity to speak about their SEWB and contributing to research that may eventually enhance SEWB in their community. Conclusion: Our research project was considered acceptable by most staff and patients. The positive outcomes reported by staff and feedback from patients highlights the importance of providing opportunities for people to speak about their SEWB and for research-informed SEWB PHC care. Trial registration: Getting it Right is registered on ANZCTR12614000705684.

Original language	English
Article number	294
Journal	BMC Psychiatry
Volume	19
Issue number	1
ISSN	1471-244X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2263-8
Publication status	Published - 7 Oct 2019

Keywords

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Depression screening
Primary healthcare
Qualitative research

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Farnbach, S., Gee, G., Eades, A. M., Evans, J. R., Fernando, J., Hammond, B., Simms, M., Demasi, K., Hackett, M. L., Teixeira-Pinto, A., Glozier, N., Skinner, T., Askew, D., Cass, A., & Brown, A. (2019). 'We're here to listen and help them as well': A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services. BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), [294]. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2263-8

'We're here to listen and help them as well' : A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services. / Farnbach, Sara; Gee, Graham; Eades, Anne Marie et al.

In: BMC Psychiatry, Vol. 19, No. 1, 294, 07.10.2019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Farnbach, S, Gee, G, Eades, AM, Evans, JR, Fernando, J, Hammond, B, Simms, M, Demasi, K, Hackett, ML, Teixeira-Pinto, A, Glozier, N, Skinner, T, Askew, D, Cass, A & Brown, A 2019, ''We're here to listen and help them as well': A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services', BMC Psychiatry, vol. 19, no. 1, 294. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2263-8

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title = "'We're here to listen and help them as well': A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services",

abstract = "Background: Research can inform culturally-appropriate care to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter, the term 'Indigenous Peoples' is respectfully used and refers to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia). We acknowledge the cultural diversity of Australia's Indigenous First Peoples and they do not represent a homogenous group.) (hereafter Indigenous) Peoples. We explore the perspectives of primary healthcare staff and Indigenous patients about their willingness to and experiences participating in SEWB research. Method: Process evaluation using grounded theory approaches of Getting it Right: The validation study, a national validation designed Indigenous SEWB research project (N = 500). Primary healthcare staff (n = 36) and community members (n = 4) from nine of ten primary healthcare services involved with the research project completed qualitative semi-structured interviews. Interview data were triangulated with participant feedback (responses to structured questions and free-text feedback collected during Getting it Right), study administrative data (participant screening logs, communication logs, study protocol, deviation logs and ethics correspondence) and interviewer field notes. Results: Three themes about staff, patient and community perspectives concerning research participation developed: (1) considering the needs, risk, preferences and impact of participation in research for staff, patients and community; (2) building staff confidence speaking to patients about research and SEWB problems and (3) patients speaking openly about their SEWB. Some staff described pressure to ensure patients had a positive experience with the research, to respond appropriately if patients became upset or SEWB problems were identified during interviews, or due to their dual role as community member and researcher. Patients and staff reported that patients were more likely to participate if they knew the staff outside of the service, especially staff with a shared cultural background, and they perceived SEWB as a community priority. Staff reported their skills speaking to patients about the research and SEWB improved during the research, which built their confidence. Contrary to staff preconceptions, staff and patients reported that many patients appreciated the opportunity to speak about their SEWB and contributing to research that may eventually enhance SEWB in their community. Conclusion: Our research project was considered acceptable by most staff and patients. The positive outcomes reported by staff and feedback from patients highlights the importance of providing opportunities for people to speak about their SEWB and for research-informed SEWB PHC care. Trial registration: Getting it Right is registered on ANZCTR12614000705684.",

keywords = "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Depression screening, Primary healthcare, Qualitative research",

author = "Sara Farnbach and Graham Gee and Eades, {Anne Marie} and Evans, {John Robert} and Jamie Fernando and Belinda Hammond and Matty Simms and Karrina Demasi and Hackett, {Maree L.} and Armando Teixeira-Pinto and Nick Glozier and Timothy Skinner and Deborah Askew and Alan Cass and Alex Brown",

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doi = "10.1186/s12888-019-2263-8",

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T2 - A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services

AU - Farnbach, Sara

AU - Gee, Graham

AU - Eades, Anne Marie

AU - Evans, John Robert

AU - Fernando, Jamie

AU - Hammond, Belinda

AU - Simms, Matty

AU - Demasi, Karrina

AU - Hackett, Maree L.

AU - Teixeira-Pinto, Armando

AU - Glozier, Nick

AU - Skinner, Timothy

AU - Askew, Deborah

AU - Cass, Alan

AU - Brown, Alex

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N2 - Background: Research can inform culturally-appropriate care to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter, the term 'Indigenous Peoples' is respectfully used and refers to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia). We acknowledge the cultural diversity of Australia's Indigenous First Peoples and they do not represent a homogenous group.) (hereafter Indigenous) Peoples. We explore the perspectives of primary healthcare staff and Indigenous patients about their willingness to and experiences participating in SEWB research. Method: Process evaluation using grounded theory approaches of Getting it Right: The validation study, a national validation designed Indigenous SEWB research project (N = 500). Primary healthcare staff (n = 36) and community members (n = 4) from nine of ten primary healthcare services involved with the research project completed qualitative semi-structured interviews. Interview data were triangulated with participant feedback (responses to structured questions and free-text feedback collected during Getting it Right), study administrative data (participant screening logs, communication logs, study protocol, deviation logs and ethics correspondence) and interviewer field notes. Results: Three themes about staff, patient and community perspectives concerning research participation developed: (1) considering the needs, risk, preferences and impact of participation in research for staff, patients and community; (2) building staff confidence speaking to patients about research and SEWB problems and (3) patients speaking openly about their SEWB. Some staff described pressure to ensure patients had a positive experience with the research, to respond appropriately if patients became upset or SEWB problems were identified during interviews, or due to their dual role as community member and researcher. Patients and staff reported that patients were more likely to participate if they knew the staff outside of the service, especially staff with a shared cultural background, and they perceived SEWB as a community priority. Staff reported their skills speaking to patients about the research and SEWB improved during the research, which built their confidence. Contrary to staff preconceptions, staff and patients reported that many patients appreciated the opportunity to speak about their SEWB and contributing to research that may eventually enhance SEWB in their community. Conclusion: Our research project was considered acceptable by most staff and patients. The positive outcomes reported by staff and feedback from patients highlights the importance of providing opportunities for people to speak about their SEWB and for research-informed SEWB PHC care. Trial registration: Getting it Right is registered on ANZCTR12614000705684.

AB - Background: Research can inform culturally-appropriate care to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter, the term 'Indigenous Peoples' is respectfully used and refers to all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia). We acknowledge the cultural diversity of Australia's Indigenous First Peoples and they do not represent a homogenous group.) (hereafter Indigenous) Peoples. We explore the perspectives of primary healthcare staff and Indigenous patients about their willingness to and experiences participating in SEWB research. Method: Process evaluation using grounded theory approaches of Getting it Right: The validation study, a national validation designed Indigenous SEWB research project (N = 500). Primary healthcare staff (n = 36) and community members (n = 4) from nine of ten primary healthcare services involved with the research project completed qualitative semi-structured interviews. Interview data were triangulated with participant feedback (responses to structured questions and free-text feedback collected during Getting it Right), study administrative data (participant screening logs, communication logs, study protocol, deviation logs and ethics correspondence) and interviewer field notes. Results: Three themes about staff, patient and community perspectives concerning research participation developed: (1) considering the needs, risk, preferences and impact of participation in research for staff, patients and community; (2) building staff confidence speaking to patients about research and SEWB problems and (3) patients speaking openly about their SEWB. Some staff described pressure to ensure patients had a positive experience with the research, to respond appropriately if patients became upset or SEWB problems were identified during interviews, or due to their dual role as community member and researcher. Patients and staff reported that patients were more likely to participate if they knew the staff outside of the service, especially staff with a shared cultural background, and they perceived SEWB as a community priority. Staff reported their skills speaking to patients about the research and SEWB improved during the research, which built their confidence. Contrary to staff preconceptions, staff and patients reported that many patients appreciated the opportunity to speak about their SEWB and contributing to research that may eventually enhance SEWB in their community. Conclusion: Our research project was considered acceptable by most staff and patients. The positive outcomes reported by staff and feedback from patients highlights the importance of providing opportunities for people to speak about their SEWB and for research-informed SEWB PHC care. Trial registration: Getting it Right is registered on ANZCTR12614000705684.

KW - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

KW - Depression screening

KW - Primary healthcare

KW - Qualitative research

U2 - 10.1186/s12888-019-2263-8

DO - 10.1186/s12888-019-2263-8

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31590642

AN - SCOPUS:85072970733

SN - 1471-244X

VL - 19

JO - B M C Psychiatry

JF - B M C Psychiatry

IS - 1

M1 - 294

ER -

'We're here to listen and help them as well': A qualitative study of staff and Indigenous patient perceptions about participating in social and emotional wellbeing research at primary healthcare services

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Keywords

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