SynthesisBMC medical research methodology2026
A systematic review and meta synthesis of barriers and facilitators to Black women's participation in healthcare research.
Synthesis in BMC medical research methodology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Involving a black woman patient and public involvement group in maternal health methodology research: learning from the PROMISE Study.Research involvement and engagement · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundBlack women are under-represented in clinical research, contributing to persistent health inequities and undermining the validity and generalisability of research findings. Understanding facilitators and barriers to their research engagement is essential to addressing these challenges. This study aimed to identify and synthesise evidence on barriers and facilitators which influence Black women's participation in healthcare research, to inform inclusive recruitment strategies and equitable research designs.
methodsThis systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024587308). Findings were narratively synthesised using thematic analysis and discussed iteratively through Patient and Public Involvement. Five databases were searched (CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase, MIDIRS, MEDLINE) for studies published since 2010. Papers in any language were screened for inclusion. Patient and Public Involvement members informed review objectives and data interpretation. Primary research studies reporting on Black women's experiences, attitudes, and facilitators/barriers to participating in any type of healthcare research. Studies were included if ≥ 50% (to ensure primary representation) of the sample recruited were Black women.
resultsSeventy-two studies were included. Most were from America and spanned research areas relating to oncology, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), dementia, maternity, and general health. Five overarching themes identified how Black women's participation in healthcare research is shaped by a complexity of factors. These were mistrust, interpersonal experiences, altruism, self-interest, and low health/research literacy and awareness. Patient and Public Involvement consultations concurred that the findings aligned with a "bridge and barriers" analogy, illustrating how various factors can facilitate or prevent Black women from engaging with research opportunities. This provided a clear framework to guide culturally sensitive implementation for researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers.
conclusionsInclusive strategies for recruiting Black women into research must focus on co-constructing a bridge between communities and research systems. This requires structural and systemic change in research delivery environments and ongoing collaborations with all stakeholders including Black women, healthcare system providers, and research teams.
trial registrationPROSPERO (CRD42024587308).
Indexed as
Identifiers
42481959What 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.