Diverse voices: increasing ethnic minority representation in health research

About

Ethnic minority groups face a multitude of health and socioeconomic inequalities, including a higher risk of death from Covid-19 compared with people of white ethnicity. However people from ethnic minority backgrounds are historically under-represented in health research, and understanding of why these inequalities occur is limited. Improving engagement of ethnic minority communities in health research requires imagination and innovation, beyond the methods traditionally used in academia. Photography workshops were conducted with community groups in East London, where we shared skills in visual storytelling to create new tools for self-advocacy and representation.

Participants were invited to creatively express themselves and tell their own stories of health, illness, inequality or barriers to participation in research, through their images. The visual storytelling performed a dual role as both a form of creative expression and a way to document lived experiences. Works produced by participants formed a catalyst for discussion in co-design workshops to address barriers to engagement with research, and strategies for increasing representation in health research at University College London (UCL).

The project was led by Dr Shoba Poduval at University College London.