Enhancing Gypsy/Travellers' trust in mainstream health services v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Enhancing Gypsy/Travellers’ trust: using maternity and early years’ health services and dental health services as exemplars of mainstream service provision
IRAS ID
194324
Contact name
Alison McFadden
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
Gypsy/Travellers have poor health compared to the general population and other disadvantaged groups, with increased infant mortality, poor child and dental health and underuse of health services. Gypsy/Travellers face many barriers to accessing health services including mistrust. Community engagement, such as information provision and exchange and community-led interventions, is one approach to increasing trust in mainstream services.
The aim of this study is to examine which community engagement approaches are best at enhancing Gypsy/Travellers’ trust in mainstream health services. This study focuses on Maternity and Early Years’ Health Services and Children’s Dental Health Services as examples of mainstream service provision. The 4-phase, 30-month study comprises literature reviews, an online consultation with healthcare practitioners and third sector organisations, in-depth case studies involving Gypsy/Travellers, healthcare practitioners and third sector organisations, and 2 stakeholder workshops to discuss recommendations and policy options. This ethics application is for the case study element of the research.
In each case study we will carry out in-depth interviews with 8-12 mothers of pre-school children from Gypsy/Traveller communities. Women will be recruited through third sector organisations and health services such as specialist midwives and health visitors. The case studies will be conducted in 2 stages. The first two case study sites are: Leeds (English Gypsies and Irish Travellers), and Fife (Scottish Gypsies). The 2nd two case study sites will be selected at a later date once the findings of the reviews and electronic consultation are known. Each case study will last 6 months and each woman will be interviewed once.
The outcomes of our research will be: a) a framework to explain how Gypsy/Travellers do or do not engage with services; b) recommendations for policy and practice on how to enhance trust and improve the acceptability of health services to Gypsy/Travellers; c) evidence, including potential costs, upon which to base future action and research.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0028
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion