The incidence of diabetes in the UK is six times higher among people of South Asian origin compared with their European counterparts. This qualitative study explored the barriers to, and incentives for, accessing diabetic retinopathy screening by the South Asian population in Nottingham. The findings suggest that lack of understanding is a significant factor in low attendance rates. Health professionals and services should maximise all opportunities to reinforce the benefits, and engagement strategies should be adapted to the characteristics and beliefs of subgroups in this community.
<p>This book emerges at a critical time in developing research to aid understanding of the health needs of minority ethnic groups. The development of key initiatives in the health of minority ethnic groups is hampered by the lack of information about the ways in which issues of ‘race’, ethnicity and experiences impact on individuals and communities. Researchers working in nursing and health care have begun to research ethnicity and ‘race’ within a more politicised context which seeks to expose the impact of inequality within a ‘race’ and ethnicities based framework.</p>
<p>While this book focuses primarily on conducting research in counselling and psychotherapy, it provides sound information that will be useful to researchers from a range of disciplines. It is particularly suited to the needs of novice researchers studying health and social care in general or those attempting to plan and implement their work in counselling disciplines.</p>
<p>This book is part of a series of texts exploring specific aspects of qualitative research. The series of books is particularly geared towards novice and inexperienced researchers. The text has an interdisciplinary and international focus. Issues relating to gender and qualitative methods are introduced by the authors through their own work and experiences of conducting qualitative studies.</p>
<p>In this article the insider-outsider debate is used to explore the contradictions and responsibilities faced by a black researcher working in black and minority ethnic communities. Situations in which the tensions of ethnically focused qualitative research are shared by all researchers, irrespective of ethnicity, and those in which the issues are magnified or different for the black researcher are explored. Laura Serrant-Green discusses notions of identity based around one socially determined characteristic (ethnicity). She also examines issues from the black researcher’s perspective and concludes by asking all researchers to reflect on their own position in the research process, particularly in research into race and ethnicity</p>
Aim The aim of the pilot study was to explore lay and professional perceptions of men’s sexual health behaviour and the factors affecting risk in relation to sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Method The research was conducted in two cities in the UK and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. A purposive sampling technique was used to ensure that a mixture of lay and professional responses was received.
Results The results indicate that lay and professional respondents perceive that STI risk is related to social inequality. Men from minority ethnic groups and lower social classes are believed to be at particular risk of contracting STIs but their needs are not being adequately addressed by sexual health services and information providers.
Conclusion Further research is needed to discover the ways in which sexual health and risk are affected by social inequality. Service providers and planners need to consider the possible consequences of developing sexual health services for the male population.
