Improving access to specialist CFS/ME services for BME children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving access to specialist CFS/ME services for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME)children
IRAS ID
242160
Contact name
Catherine Linney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to understand the barriers experienced by children from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in accessing specialist chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ME services. This will be investigated by interviewing: BME children and their families who have attended specialist CFS/ME services; BME children with disabling fatigue who have not attended specialist CFS/ME services; BME community leaders; and GPs.\n\nProject 1: Interviews with BME children with CFS/ME or disabling fatigue and families\nThe Chief Investigator (CI) will recruit children (under 18) who identify as BME from a specialist CFS/ME service in the Bath/Bristol area and children with disabling fatigue who have not been seen in the CFS/ME service, along with their families. Participants will be invited to attend a 45 minute interview at a location of their choosing or via Skype. The interview can be arranged as a number of shorter interviews if more appropriate and a translator will be offered if necessary.\n\nProject 2: Community Leader interviews\nThe CI will recruit community leaders from the Bath/Bristol area for interview, including at least one religious leader and one charity manager working with the BME community. Interviews will take place at a location of the participants choosing and is anticipated to take 45 minutes. \n\nProject 3: GPs \nThe CI will recruit GPs from the Bristol area to take part in a study and an interview. Firstly, the GPs will be presented with a fictional scenario of a patient story which will describe what they would tell the GP (range of typical symptoms). The patient stories will come from a range of ethnic backgrounds. The GPs will be asked, based on the symptoms provided, their thoughts on the child’s diagnoses or the next steps they would take. The GPs will subsequently be interviewed when possible (maximum 45 minutes).\n
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0120
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion