Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused primary healthcare social and emotional wellbeing research: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

BackgroundResearch with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian’s (hereafter referred to as Indigenous1) needs is crucial to ensure culturally appropriate evidence-based strategies are developed to improve health. However, concerns surrounding this research exist, arising from some previous research lacking community consultation, resulting in little community benefit or infringing on important cultural values. Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research (hereafter referred to as Values and Ethics), developed by The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia in 2003, is the ethical standard for Indigenous-focused health research. Researchers must address its Values in research design and conduct. However, its impact on research processes is unclear. Local Protocols should also be considered. This review aims to systematically examine practices related to Values and Ethics, Local Protocols and the processes of conducting Indigenous-focused primary healthcare research in collaboration with external researchers.MethodsThe following electronic databases and grey literature will be searched (2003 to current): MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Informit and HealthInfoNet—an Indigenous-specific research and program website. Indigenous-focused research will be included. Research must be conducted in one or more primary healthcare services, in collaboration with external researchers and with a focus on social and emotional well being. One reviewer will review titles and abstracts to remove obviously irrelevant research articles. Full-text research articles will be retrieved and independently examined by two reviewers. Data and quality assessment will be completed by one reviewer and verified by a second reviewer. Quality will be assessed using modified versions of established quality assessment tools.DiscussionThis review will provide information on research processes and the impact of Values and Ethics on Indigenous-focused primary healthcare research, informing communities and primary healthcare staff around research practices, and researchers and policy makers of strengths and weaknesses of practice.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42015024994Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13643-015-0180-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The conduct of Australian Indigenous primary health care research focusing on social and emotional wellbeing: a systematic review

“…The methods used in this review are previously published 13,19 , and are in accordance with PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015024994).…”

“…We identified when authors reported, or we identified actions taken relating to, the values detailed in Values and ethics using a previously developed list of potential actions 13 and local protocols.…”

“…Values and ethics identifies the following six values as key in underpinning research: reciprocity, respect, equality, responsibility, survival and protection, and spirit and integrity (see review protocol for definitions 13 ).…”

The quality of Australian Indigenous primary health care research focusing on social and emotional wellbeing: a systematic review

“…Data were extracted using data extraction forms developed for this review. In accordance with our protocol 12 , we assessed risk of bias using adapted versions of existing risk-of-bias assessment tools. Studies using mixed methods were assessed according to the dominant method used.…”

“…A protocol for this review has been published previously 12 , and is in accordance with PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015024994).…”