ArticleBMJ open2017
Barriers and facilitators to recruitment of South Asians to health research: a scoping review.
Article in BMJ open, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 63 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
63 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Pooled it
- Interventions targeting adolescent substance use and misuse in South Asian Countries: A systematic review.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2025Pooled it
- A systematic review of recruitment and retention of ethnic minorities and migrants in obesity prevention randomised controlled trials.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2024Pooled it
- A systematic review to identify research priority setting in Black and minority ethnic health and evaluate their processes.PloS one · 2021Pooled it
- Access to translated invitations online increases involvement of linguistically diverse households in a population-based study: a cluster randomized controlled study.Scientific reports · 2025Trial
- Trial
- The Tribulations of Trials: Lessons Learnt Recruiting 777 Older Adults Into REtirement in ACTion (REACT), a Trial of a Community, Group-Based Active Aging Intervention Targeting Mobility Disability.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2020Trial
- Effect of a tailored leaflet to promote diabetic retinopathy screening among young adults with type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.BMC ophthalmology · 2020Trial
- Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Aging and Dementia in South Asians in Greater Atlanta: Findings from an Online Convenience Sample Survey.Journal of immigrant and minority health · 2026Article
- Genetic and health determinants of cancer risk in Bangladeshi and Pakistani individuals in the UK.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Perspectives and Needs Regarding Remote Monitoring Technologies Among South Asian Individuals Living With Long-Term Conditions in the United Kingdom: Semistructured Interview and Focus Group Study.JMIR human factors · 2026Article
- Co-designing interventions for chronic pain: A participatory action research study with south Asian women.British journal of health psychology · 2026Article
- Article
- Barriers to perinatal care among pregnant South Asian immigrants living in Canada: a scoping review protocol.Reproductive health · 2025Article
- Article
- Mapping the path to diversity in clinical trials: a qualitative study of community member and stakeholder perspectives.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Engaging migrants and immigrants in genetics research.Nature genetics · 2025Review
- Article
- Codesigning the South Asian Diet and Activity Intervention (SADAI): process and outcomes.Public health nutrition · 2025Article
- Uncovering systemic barriers related to equity, diversity and inclusion in child health research: a scoping review addressing marginalised communities.BMJ global health · 2025Article
3 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesPeople of South Asian ethnicity are under-represented in health research studies. The objectives of this scoping review were to examine the barriers and facilitators to recruitment of South Asians to health research studies and to describe strategies for improving recruitment.
designScoping review
methodsUsing the Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews, we comprehensively searched electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and PsycINFO). Studies that identified barriers and facilitators to recruitment, or recruitment strategies for South Asian populations were included. Recruitment barriers, facilitators and strategies were grouped thematically and summarised narratively. SYNTHESIS: Of 1846 potentially relevant articles, 15 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the thematic synthesis. Multiple facilitators and barriers to enrolment of South Asians in health research studies were identified; these most commonly related to logistical challenges, language and cultural barriers, concerns about adverse consequences of participating and mistrust of research. Several actionable strategies were discussed, the most common being engagement of South Asian communities, demonstration of cultural competency, provision of incentives and benefits, language sensitivity through the use of translators and translated materials and the development of trust and personal relationships.
conclusionThere is a growing awareness of the barriers and facilitators to recruitment of South Asian participants to health research studies. Knowledge of effective recruitment strategies and implementation during the grant funding stages may reduce the risk of poor recruitment and representation of South Asians.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.