BMC Medical Research Methodology
Volume 17, Issue 1, 2017

A systematic review of studies with a representative sample of refugees and asylum seekers living in the community for participation in mental health research (Review) (Open Access)

Enticott J.C.* , Shawyer F. , Vasi S. , Buck K. , Cheng I.-H. , Russell G. , Kakuma R. , Minas H. , Meadows G.
  • a Department of Psychiatry, Southern Synergy, Monash University, 126-128 Cleeland St, Dandenong, VIC 3175, Australia, RDNS Institute, 31 Alma Rd, St Kilda, VIC 3182, Australia
  • b Department of Psychiatry, Southern Synergy, Monash University, 126-128 Cleeland St, Dandenong, VIC 3175, Australia
  • c Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
  • d Department of Psychiatry, Southern Synergy, Monash University, 126-128 Cleeland St, Dandenong, VIC 3175, Australia
  • e Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
  • f Southern Academic Primary Care Research Unit, School of Primary Health Care, Monash University, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC 3168, Australia
  • g Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit, Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
  • h Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit, Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
  • i Department of Psychiatry, Southern Synergy, Monash University, 126-128 Cleeland St, Dandenong, VIC 3175, Australia, Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit, Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia, Mental Health Program, Monash Health, Dandenong, VIC 3075, Australia

Abstract

Background: The aim was to review the literature to identify the most effective methods for creating a representative sample of refugee and asylum seeker groups living in the community to participate in health and mental health survey research. Methods: A systematic search of academic and grey literature was conducted for relevant literature with 'hidden' groups published between January 1995 and January 2016. The main search used Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL and SCOPUS electronic databases. Hidden groups were defined as refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons or hard/difficult to reach populations. A supplementary grey literature search was conducted. Identified articles were rated according to a created graded system of 'level of evidence for a community representative sample' based on key study factors that indicated possible sources of selection bias. Articles were included if they were assessed as having medium or higher evidence for a representative sample. All full-text papers that met the eligibility criteria were examined in detail and relevant data extracted. Results: The searches identified a total of 20 publications for inclusion: 16 peer-reviewed publications and four highly relevant reports. Seventeen studies had sampled refugee and asylum seekers and three other hidden groups. The main search identified 12 (60.0%) and the grey search identified another eight (40.0%) articles. All 20 described sampling techniques for accessing hidden groups for participation in health-related research. Key design considerations were: an a priori aim to recruit a representative sample; a reliable sampling frame; recording of response rates; implementation of long recruitment periods; using multiple non-probability sampling methods; and, if possible, including a probability sampling component. Online social networking sites were used by one study. Engagement with the refugee and asylum seeker group was universally endorsed in the literature as necessary and a variety of additional efforts to do this were reported. Conclusions: The strategies for increasing the likelihood of a representative sample of this hidden group were identified and will assist researchers when doing future research with refugee groups. These findings encourage more rigorous reporting of future studies so that the representativeness of samples of these groups in research can be more readily assessed. © 2017 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Mental disorders Sampling Surveying hidden population recruitment Asylum seeker Hard-to-reach Refugee Stateless person

Index Keywords

statistics and numerical data Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic human Health Surveys refugee procedures health survey selection bias mental health Health Services Accessibility Humans Refugees psychology health care delivery posttraumatic stress disorder
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85014347948&doi=10.1186%2fs12874-017-0312-x&partnerID=40&md5=83bfc3f4073194ed71b69dc541d6f1ea
DOI: 10.1186/s12874-017-0312-x
ISSN: 14712288
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English