Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40410864›Full record

ArticleResearch involvement and engagement2025

Invisible spectrum: a model for minority community public engagement in cancer research.

Shane O'Grady, Jessica C Ralston, Eadaoin McKiernan, Fiona Lanigan, Md Salauddin, Shayla Sharmin, Terri McVeigh, William M Gallagher, Suzanne Guerin, Arman Rahman and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Research involvement and engagement, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Shane O'GradySystems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. shane.ogrady@ucd.ie.
Jessica C RalstonSystems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Eadaoin McKiernanSystems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Fiona LaniganSystems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Md SalauddinSchool of Civil Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Shayla SharminBangladeshi community leader, Dublin, Ireland.
Terri McVeighThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Road, London, UK.
William M GallagherUCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Suzanne GuerinSchool of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Arman RahmanUCD School of Medicine, UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Walter KolchSystems Biology Ireland, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Funding

Research Ireland 18/SPP/3522
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEthnic minority communities are often recognised as experiencing decreased accessibility to vital medical services as well as increased barriers to participation in research studies. These issues stem from a variety of social, cultural and economic factors, all of which must be taken into consideration when designing engagement initiatives for a particular community. Invisible Spectrum is an annual engagement initiative which seeks to promote effective communication and outreach to often-overlooked ethnic minority communities within Ireland, primarily those of Bangladeshi origin. The programme was developed in response to the traditionally low levels of engagement with healthcare services observed within these communities and seeks to empower communities in their own healthcare decision making.

methodsThis study reports a programme of community participation activity with an embedded empirical research component based on participatory action research. The team included researchers and leaders within the Bangladeshi and Arabic Muslim communities in Ireland. Over the course of four years, feedback polls, pre- and post-event surveys and in-depth interviews gathered the views and recommendations of attendees.

resultsWe held 4 annual events as part of the Invisible Spectrum programme, from 2019 to 2023. Feedback we collected from participants consistently demonstrated high levels of satisfaction within the target communities while quantitative survey data also indicated improvements in key areas such as recognition of potential cancer symptoms and greater awareness of available screening services.

conclusionThere is a significant need to continually promote patient involvement and minority inclusion in healthcare and research initiatives. In line with this goal and after 4 successful years of running the Invisible Spectrum programme, we have developed a set of recommendations and guidelines for the successful development and organisation of minority community engagement initiatives. It is our hope that the Invisible Spectrum programme could be used as a model for future endeavours of a similar nature.

Indexed as

Cancer awarenessCo-designEthnic minorityPatient and public involvementResearch engagement

Identifiers

PMID40410864
PMCPMC12100985

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.