Development of an adolescent advisory group to inform sexual and reproductive health research for first- and second-generation immigrant adolescents in Canada: A community-based participatory action research study

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the growing evidence supporting the benefit of engaging adolescents in research, the active engagement of immigrant adolescents in research is limited. Further, when exploring the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of immigrant adolescents, utilization of adolescent advisory groups is finite. This study aimed to train and evaluate engagement of an adolescent advisory group (AAG) to inform SRH needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada.MethodsUsing purposive sampling, 13 AAG members were recruited into this study. Members were trained in content related to SRH needs of adolescents and various research methodologies such as conducting a scoping review and qualitative interviews with adolescent participants. After 10 months of member engagement, their experiences were evaluated to identify areas of success and areas for improvement. These data were collected using the Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool, which consisted of a Likert survey and open-ended questions, and analyzed in accordance to the Patient Engagement in Research (PEIR) framework.FindingsTen members completed the evaluation survey. Likert survey responses were primarily positive. Majority of members showed positive demonstrations regarding various components of the PEIR framework, including contributions, support, research environment, and feeling valued.ConclusionFindings illustrated that immigrant AAGs are constructive to informing SRH research. Not only can research teams benefit, but members are also empowered. This study provided the foundation for future immigrant adolescent engagement in research and knowledge translation, and effective means of evaluating engagement by utilizing the PEIR framework.

Exploring children and young people’s experience of participating in citizen science–A qualitative evidence synthesis

“…The positive meanings associated with these human connections contribute to a favourable participant experience [ 42 , 52 ]. The meeting of new people and the expansion of social circles, meeting people with different experiences, backgrounds, and skills, enhanced the participant experience [ 21 , 33 – 35 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 47 – 52 , 54 , 55 ]. These new relationships caused participants to reflect on their place in the world [ 31 , 32 ];…”

“…The citizen scientists’ backgrounds influenced their participant experience [ 33 , 35 , 42 – 44 , 47 , 48 , 55 , 59 ]. This was particularly evident in the work of Song and Hur [ 44 ], where citizen scientists not proficient in the Korean language encountered distinct challenges that diverged from those faced by their language-fluent counterparts.…”

“…Seeing the value of the research, and the participants feeling that they meaningfully contributed, positively influenced their experience [ 33 , 40 , 42 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 55 ]. A citizen scientist in Bennet’s [ 42 ] study highlights this:…”

Overcoming barriers to the recruitment of immigrant Hispanic people in perinatal research

“…12 Community-based participatory research (CBPR) exists on the continuum of CEnR, when community partners are active leaders of the research process, and requires meeting rigorous standards. 12 Many research groups have designed their studies along the CEnR spectrum when specifically studying immigrant communities, 16,17 including the Latine immigrant community. 18 However, we argue that CEnR principles can be considered more broadly for the purpose of improving Latine and/or immigrant representation in research overall.…”