Co-producing COVID-19 health education resources with ethnic minority communities in the UK

Abstract

Abstract Background Effective communication of relevant health information is challenging in elderly minority ethnic groups due to language barriers and cultural differences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the public health guidance around COVID-19 was in dominant languages, lacking cultural nuance. This study aimed to co-produce culturally, linguistically, and age-appropriate health education resources in COVID-19, tailored to the needs of older adults from ethnic minority backgrounds. Methods This study involved three stages: 1) Semi-structured interviews with Indian and Nepalese older adults (≥65 years), their families (≥18 years) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) (≥18 years) engaging with these communities; 2) Co-production of COVID-19 information resource, and c) Implementation of co-produced resources among the communities. Results 24 participants took part in the study. There was wide variation in participants’ knowledge of COVID-19; some were knowledgeable, while others had limited information. Participants highlighted the need for information in multiple formats and languages and discussed the importance of culturally avenues for information dissemination. Drawing on these findings and two co-production workshops held with the stakeholders, culturally sensitive information leaflets (electronic and paper) were co-prodcued in Hindi and Nepalese using age-appropriate images and infographics. The leaflets were distributed widely to the Nepalese and Indian communities, healthcare trusts and local authorities using the networks of community members, HCPs, and religious leaders. Conclusions The project highlights the significance of participatory methods in the development of culturally relevant public health interventions applicable to the cultural practices of ethnic minority groups. The co-production approach in this study could influence information provision for future public health campaigns for other marginalised groups. Key messages • Health information should be co-produced with a representative sample of the community members and relevant stakeholders. • There is a need on an ongoing basis to identify and fill the information gaps, address misinformation and develop targeted messages.