Research With Refugees and Vulnerable Populations in a Post-COVID World: Challenges and Opportunities

Saad, Bassem; George, Sophie; Bazzi, Celine; Gorski, Kathleen; Abou-Rass, Noor; Shoukfeh, Rajaa; Javanbakht, Arash

doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2022.04.024

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Finally, pre-posting resources means that participant attrition results in resource loss.2. Access and space: As mentioned above, while facilitating the workshops online extended opportunities for access for some participants, the internet (and IT required for videoconferencing) are not always accessible, comfortable or appealing for everyone (Saad et al, 2022; Sheldon et al, 2007; Wherton et al, 2020). Participants with a refugee background were the least represented in our online workshops, and we have speculated that this was due to their virtual delivery (we later held in-person sessions to address this).…”

Section: Conclusion: Methodological Strengths and Shortcomingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Embodied Experience via Videoconferencing: A Method for Body Mapping Online

Vaughan

Dew

Ngo

et al. 2022

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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Faced with a series of COVID-19 related lockdowns in Australia across 2020 and 2021, and anxious about the safety of our research participants, we developed a novel approach to body mapping, an arts-based research method typically undertaken in-person. We produced a facilitated body mapping workshop hosted via an online videoconferencing platform. Workshops brought together 29 participants with disability, mental distress and/or refugee background who used body mapping to represent their embodied experiences of stigma and discrimination. These workshops generated rich data, and participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the process. In this paper we describe our novel approach to body mapping, and share practical tips for others who wish to undertake body mapping remotely. We outline strengths associated with this method: increased accessibility, enhanced connection between participants, the formation of a space to explore challenging subject matter, the production of rich data, and the creation of diverse body maps. We also discuss shortcomings and challenges which those considering the method should be aware of: increased logistical burden, demands related to space, IT difficulties, the danger of over-sharing, and diminished cohort sizes. To our knowledge, this is the first paper to report on body mapping facilitated via web-based workshops. Here, we seek to provide practical advice and useful insights for others hoping to utilise body mapping online.

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Section: Conclusion: Methodological Strengths and Shortcomingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Embodied Experience via Videoconferencing: A Method for Body Mapping Online

Vaughan

Dew

Ngo

et al. 2022

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Second, because of the limited availability of empirical evidence, we have conducted this review to share promising research findings with the hope that this will galvanize more researchers to undertake rigorous research with a greater diversity of refugee adolescents. We acknowledge that researchers working with refugee communities face numerous challenges, including difficulties with recruitment and retention, conducting studies in humanitarian crises and global pandemics, overcoming distrust, protecting individuals with undocumented status, and language barriers, among others (Abdi et al, 2021; Saad et al, 2022). The research available for this review speaks to the tremendous efforts of these researchers and partnering communities to generate knowledge that can further serve refugee adolescents.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promoting positive development among refugee adolescents

Abdi,

Akinsulure‐Smith,

Sarkadi

et al. 2023

J of Research on Adolesc

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Of the estimated 35.3 million refugees around the world (UNHCR, Figures at a Glance, 2022), approximately 50% are children under the age of 18. Refugee adolescents represent a unique group as they navigate developmental tasks in an unstable and often threatening environment or in resettlement contexts in which they often face marginalization. In addition to physiological, social, and psychological changes that mark adolescence, refugee youth often face traumatic experiences, acculturative stress, discrimination, and a lack of basic resources. In this consensus statement, we examine research on refugee adolescents' developmental tasks, acculturative tasks, and psychological adjustment using Suárez‐Orozco and colleague's integrative risk and resilience model for immigrant‐origin children and youth proposed by Suárez‐Orozco et al. Finally, we discuss recommendations—moving from proximal to more distal contexts.

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“…The body of research using remote data collection methods conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that many types of data collection were conducted remotely but not necessarily in real time. Common remote data collection methods included: online survey data collection [ 2 ], online focus groups [ 3 ], video-recorded instructions for data collection [ 4 ], self-collection of biometric data (eg, taking weight at home) [ 5 , 6 ], and remote qualitative interviews [ 7 , 8 ]. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 resulted in the sudden need for research teams to stop in-person research and move to virtual or remote data collection options that they may have never done before.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings from studies conducted both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that many types of data can be collected virtually or remotely, and, in many cases, the same type of data can be collected in several different ways. For example, multiple research teams collected anthropometric data (eg, height, weight, and waist circumference) remotely through real-time videos [ 5 , 6 , 9 - 28 ], while others collected anthropometric data by using recorded videos, telephone instructions, and multiple modes of instruction to assure data quality. Clinical research studies researching long-term illnesses and diagnoses (ie, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, autism spectrum disorder, HIV, etc) used telehealth and videoconferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 11 - 13 , 20 , 24 , 25 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Best Practices and Recommendations for Research Using Virtual Real-Time Data Collection: Protocol for Virtual Data Collection Studies

Sanchez,

Trofholz,

Berge

2024

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent need for social distancing required the immediate pivoting of research modalities. Research that had previously been conducted in person had to pivot to remote data collection. Researchers had to develop data collection protocols that could be conducted remotely with limited or no evidence to guide the process. Therefore, the use of web-based platforms to conduct real-time research visits surged despite the lack of evidence backing these novel approaches. Objective This paper aims to review the remote or virtual research protocols that have been used in the past 10 years, gather existing best practices, and propose recommendations for continuing to use virtual real-time methods when appropriate. Methods Articles (n=22) published from 2013 to June 2023 were reviewed and analyzed to understand how researchers conducted virtual research that implemented real-time protocols. “Real-time” was defined as data collection with a participant through a live medium where a participant and research staff could talk to each other back and forth in the moment. We excluded studies for the following reasons: (1) studies that collected participant or patient measures for the sole purpose of engaging in a clinical encounter; (2) studies that solely conducted qualitative interview data collection; (3) studies that conducted virtual data collection such as surveys or self-report measures that had no interaction with research staff; (4) studies that described research interventions but did not involve the collection of data through a web-based platform; (5) studies that were reviews or not original research; (6) studies that described research protocols and did not include actual data collection; and (7) studies that did not collect data in real time, focused on telehealth or telemedicine, and were exclusively intended for medical and not research purposes. Results Findings from studies conducted both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that many types of data can be collected virtually in real time. Results and best practice recommendations from the current protocol review will be used in the design and implementation of a substudy to provide more evidence for virtual real-time data collection over the next year. Conclusions Our findings suggest that virtual real-time visits are doable across a range of participant populations and can answer a range of research questions. Recommended best practices for virtual real-time data collection include (1) providing adequate equipment for real-time data collection, (2) creating protocols and materials for research staff to facilitate or guide participants through data collection, (3) piloting data collection, (4) iteratively accepting feedback, and (5) providing instructions in multiple forms. The implementation of these best practices and recommendations for future research are further discussed in the paper. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/53790

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Research With Refugees and Vulnerable Populations in a Post-COVID World: Challenges and Opportunities

Cited by 11 publications

References 12 publications

Exploring Embodied Experience via Videoconferencing: A Method for Body Mapping Online

Exploring Embodied Experience via Videoconferencing: A Method for Body Mapping Online

Promoting positive development among refugee adolescents

Best Practices and Recommendations for Research Using Virtual Real-Time Data Collection: Protocol for Virtual Data Collection Studies

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