Finding out what matters: using art to elicit research ideas from people in traditionally underserved groups

The project aims to generate research ideas and discuss the best ways to communicate research with members of underserved populations (black and ethnic minority groups; people with dementia or their carers; people with mental health conditions). Researchers will conduct discussions with established community groups and create artwork to highlight their concerns. This will result in interesting, accessible project outputs that will be displayed across the SPCR sites and online to maximise dissemination.

This work draws on the NHS Long Term Plan, particularly on key policy elements on social isolation, mental health and integrated care. As such, it aims to:

1) generate research ideas and consider how to share research findings with underserved groups;
2) facilitate involvement through art;
3) share the project findings and artwork in a national exhibition across all nine SPCR sites that will also be digitally curated on the SPCR ESWG website with an online launching event.

By engaging with the public using artwork, we will be trialing a creative approach that may help to overcome communication barriers, including literacy problems and discussing sensitive issues.

We will raise awareness of primary care research and of PPI by presenting information on these to members of the community groups, and offering opportunities for involvement in research.

This project is linked to the work of the Evidence Synthesis Working Group. The ESWG is a collaboration across the SPCR, involving all nine member departments. It aims to produce high quality systematic reviews. Systematic reviews are a popular way to bring together current evidence, assess its strength and create new information about whether or not something works and/or how it works. 

Video produced (July 2020) 

PI: Anne-Marie Boylan (Evidence Synthesis Working Group), Shoba Dawson, Yemi Babatunde and Stephanie Tierney