Toolkit for Increasing the Participation of Rural and Coastal Communities in Health and Social Care Research

<p>Rural and coastal people are underrepresented in health and social care  research. This can impact the quality of the research by reducing the generalisability  of findings and/or by limiting the ‘strength’ of the research methods being used  by researchers. The result of this is twofold. Firstly, there is limited understanding  of health and social care as it operates in rural settings and, secondly, research  conclusions give an incomplete picture of the entire population. It is also unfair, from  an equity perspective, that groups traditionally underserved by research continue to  be excluded from studies because of where they live. The reasons for this ongoing exclusion are multifaceted. The literature tells us  it is likely due to difficulties with travel time and/or communication technology,  comparatively higher costs of involving rural and distanced residents, cultural  aversions, and values and concerns about privacy in small communities. There are  likely other more nuanced barriers, but potentially more effective ways of including  residents of isolated rural and coastal communities in health and social care that can  only be known by engaging directly with them. In this respect, inequities experienced  in accessing services are somewhat mirrored in the challenges of engaging these  communities in research. There are practical and emotional implications for both  those undertaking research and those who are included as participants.  This toolkit is offered as a resource for those interested in developing health and social  care research that is maximally inclusive of all people regardless of where they live. </p>