Exploring the Reported Strengths and Limitations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research: A Narrative Review of Intervention Studies

Romany McGuffog; Jamie Bryant; Kade Booth; Felicity Collis; Alex Brown; Jaquelyne T Hughes; Catherine Chamberlain; Alexandra McGhie; Breanne Hobden; Michelle Kennedy

doi:10.3390/ijerph20053993

Exploring the Reported Strengths and Limitations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research: A Narrative Review of Intervention Studies

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 23;20(5):3993. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20053993.

Authors

Romany McGuffog^{1

2}, Jamie Bryant^{1

2}, Kade Booth^{1

2}, Felicity Collis¹, Alex Brown^{3

4}, Jaquelyne T Hughes⁵, Catherine Chamberlain^{6

7}, Alexandra McGhie^{1

2}, Breanne Hobden^{1

2

8}, Michelle Kennedy^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
² Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
³ Indigenous Genomics, Australia National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
⁴ Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
⁵ Rural and Remote Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia.
⁶ Centre for Health Equity, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
⁷ Judith Lumley Centre, School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3086, Australia.
⁸ Health Behaviour Research Collaborative, School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.

Abstract

High quality intervention research is needed to inform evidence-based practice and policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We searched for studies published from 2008-2020 in the PubMed database. A narrative review of intervention literature was conducted, where we identified researcher reported strengths and limitations of their research practice. A total of 240 studies met inclusion criteria which were categorised as evaluations, trials, pilot interventions or implementation studies. Reported strengths included community engagement and partnerships; sample qualities; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement in research; culturally appropriate and safe research practice; capacity building efforts; providing resources or reducing costs for services and communities; understanding local culture and context; and appropriate timelines for completion. Reported limitations included difficulties achieving the target sample size; inadequate time; insufficient funding and resources; limited capacity of health workers and services; and inadequate community involvement and communication issues. This review highlights that community consultation and leadership coupled with appropriate time and funding, enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health intervention research to be conducted. These factors can enable effective intervention research, and consequently can help improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health; Indigenous health; intervention; review.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples*
Health Services, Indigenous*
Health Workforce
Humans

Grants and funding

This project is funded by an NHMRC Ideas Grant (APP2001767) led by University of Newcastle. This research was also supported by Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships. J.B. holds an NHMRC–Australian Research Council Dementia Research Development Fellowship (#APP1105809). A.B. is supported by NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (GNT1137563). J.T.H. is funded by NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellowship #1174758. C.C. receives an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (#1161065). B.H. is supported by an Australian Rotary Health Colin Dodds Postdoctoral Fellowship (#1801108). M.K. is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Researcher (ECR) Grant (#1158670).