Bridging the Gap: Improving healthcare provision within Britain's communities

The Open University has participated in a collaborative research project funded by Diabetes UK with the aim of developing alternative modes of data collection in minority ethnic populations with diabetes.

Diabetes is an increasing problem in South Asian communities in the UK. With self-care being the key to achieving good health, it is vital that we are able to understand and meet the needs of these individuals, many of whom speak languages which do not have an agreed written form. This research, in collaboration with Warwick University, De Montfort University and the University of Birmingham, involved the development of alternative modes of data collection in individuals whose main language was not written, with a view to developing an understanding of their diabetes education needs. The results have been published in the Diversity in Health and Social Care journal (Volume 3 245-251, 2006).

A good response rate was achieved for this study and all those taking part found the experience a positive one. Written questionnaires in Bengali and Urdu, and audio questionnaires in Sylheti and Mirpuri have been developed in collaboration with the focus group participants. We have also been able to make comparisons between different ways of administrating these questionnaires and are currently identifying the most appropriate method for each of the language/gender groups involved in this research. We intend to validate these questionnaires and modes of administration in larger samples and in other language groups, subject to further funding.

Back to top