Adapting participatory workshops to a virtual setting: co-design with Muslim women of a faith-based intervention to encourage cancer screening uptake

Kotzur, M. , Amiri, R., Gatting, L., Robb, K. A. , Ling, J., Mooney, J. D. and Christie-de Jong, F. (2023) Adapting participatory workshops to a virtual setting: co-design with Muslim women of a faith-based intervention to encourage cancer screening uptake. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22, p. 16094069231205194. (doi: 10.1177/16094069231205194)

Abstract

Early diagnosis of cancer through screening can reduce deaths and treatment burden if the people invited participate. Yet inequalities in screening participation remain: ethnic minority groups in particular experience barriers to cancer screening that need to be addressed in order to contribute to improving equality in health outcomes. Community-centred, participatory approaches can ensure that cancer screening interventions are culturally appropriate to the communities they are intended to serve. Virtual participatory research faces unique challenges in building the rapport required for successful collaboration between participants and researchers. This article describes the successful adaption of face-to-face participatory methods to co-designing, online, an intervention using faith-based messages to reduce cancer screening barriers. Based on the World Café method, we conducted four two-hour workshops by video call with a group of 10 Muslim women (29–65 years) from Glasgow, UK. Activities included (i) plenary and small-group discussions, (ii) graphic recording, and (iii) expert presentations. The workshops covered four topics: Islam and health, screening barriers, faith-based messages for screening barriers, and delivering a faith-based intervention. Anonymous feedback questionnaires evaluating each workshop showed the women found the workshops interesting, informative, and helpful. They reported being glad they had participated. Our findings highlight the importance of interactive discussion and low participant burden to optimise online co-design. The workshops created a faith-based cancer screening intervention engaging and accessible to Muslim women.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This work was supported by the Scottish Government Inequalities Fund.
• Keywords: Community based research, methods in qualitative inquiry, participatory action research, virtual environments, arts based methods.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Robb, Professor Katie and Kotzur, Dr Marie
• Authors: Kotzur, M., Amiri, R., Gatting, L., Robb, K. A., Ling, J., Mooney, J. D., and Christie-de Jong, F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: International Journal of Qualitative Methods
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 1609-4069
• ISSN (Online): 1609-4069
• Published Online: 22 October 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Qualitative Methods 22: 16094069231205194
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License