Racialised people’s experiences of using memory services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study of racialised people’s experiences of using memory services: From assessment to diagnosis
IRAS ID
342431
Contact name
Jade Campbell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research has found racial inequalities in the diagnosis of dementia and the use of services which diagnose dementia (memory services). Studies have found that people from the Global Majority are being referred to memory services later than people from White backgrounds, with some racialised people not accessing services at all for their memory difficulties (Mukadam et al., 2011; Alzheimer’s Society, 2021). Of those who do access services, some racialised groups are being diagnosed at a younger age than people from White backgrounds, having greater cognitive decline at a younger age (Mukadam et al., 2022; Tuerk & Sauer, 2015).
Previous research has begun to understand racialised people’s experiences in accessing and using memory services through interviews of healthcare staff and the general population. However, there appears to be a gap in the literature for fully involving and understanding the views and experiences of people from the Global Majority who use these services and their carers.
This is a qualitative study which aims to use semi-structured interviews to explore racialised people’s views on being referred to memory services and receiving care under these services. Memory service staff and racialised carers of people who have used a memory service have been consulted with for this research. This has helped to inform the design of this research study including development of the interview schedule.
Participants for this study will be recruited through an NHS memory service and charity organisations. Interviews will take place in person, using the conference platform MS Teams, or by telephone. Data will be analysed using thematic analysis to sculpt themes across interview data relating to the experiences of racialised people using memory services.
This research has the potential to develop recommendations on how services can provide more attentive and specialist care to people from the Global Majority in memory services.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
24/IEC08/0017
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jun 2024
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion