BME experiences of language and cultural barriers when accessing IAPT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of language and culture on Improving Access to Psychological therapy (IAPT)for Black and Minority Ethnic (Pakistani, Somali and Yemeni) patients in Sheffield: An exploration of patients' views
IRAS ID
185244
Contact name
Nahed Arafat
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) is an initiative implemented by the Department of Health in 2006 to achieve better health objectives for patients who suffer from depression and anxiety disorders. It has been recognised through studies undertaken by the Department of Health in 2009 and the National Institute of Health Research in 2011 that Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) populations face additional barriers involving language, culture or faith which prevent them from fully benefiting from psychological therapies. This study is seeking to expand the knowledge of these language and cultural issues through focusing on BME patients’ narratives of their experiences. There will be a strong focus on expression of emotions, an area highlighted as particularly important by(Pavlenko, 2006 and Tribe, 2014) The study will use a questionnaire, direct observations, narrative inquiry interviews together with vignettes recorded by the researcher . The questionnaire will be used to seek patients’ views regarding language and cultural understanding that BME patients may have when accessing IAPT service. Direct observations will allow the researcher to identify language and cultural issues not fully reported or understood by either patients or therapists. Through focusing on deciphering patients’ narratives to reveal important elements of their personal experiences and interpreting their emotional meanings, the narrative enquiry interviews will enable the researcher to reveal subjective authentic meanings and themes. This data that comes from the patients’ real experiences will contribute to this understudied area through contributing the BME patients’ perspective in the process. Conducting the research through the School of Languages and Cultures will not only inform therapists and the literature surrounding therapy issues for clients from different cultural background but will also provide those involved in the research an opportunity to focus from a linguistic/cultural perspective on the articulation of the cultural dynamic of translation within the field of mental health.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0330
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion