Interest in Collaborative, Practice-Based Research Networks in Pediatric Refugee Health Care

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 245 - 249
• Main Authors: Shah, Sural, Yun, Katherine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Science + Business Media 01-02-2018; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Barriers; BRIEF COMMUNICATION; Children; Clinical medicine; Collaboration; Comparative Law; Cooperative Behavior; Evidence-Based Practice; Female; Health care; Health care access; Health Care Surveys; Humans; International & Foreign Law; Internet; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental health services; Middle Aged; Networks; Noncitizens; Nutrition; Pediatrics; Polls & surveys; Practice research; Priorities; Prioritizing; Private International Law; Public Health; Refugees; Sociology; Young Adult; Pediatrics; Refugee; Emigrants and immigrants; Evidence-based practice
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0500-5

Over the last decade, approximately 200,000 refugee children have resettled across the United States. This population is dispersed, resulting in limited data. Collaborative research networks, where clinicians across distinct practice sites work together to answer research questions, can improve the evidence base regarding clinical care. We distributed a web-based survey to pediatric refugee providers around North America to assess priorities, perceived barriers and benefits to collaborative research. We recruited 57 participants. Of respondents, 89% were interested in collaborative research, prioritizing: (1) access to health care (33%), (2) mental health (24%) and (3) nutrition/growth (24%). Perceived benefits were “improving clinical practice” (98%) and “raising awareness about the needs of pediatric refugees” (94%). Perceived barriers were “too many other priorities” (89%) and “lack of funding for data entry” (78%). There is widespread interest in collaborative networks around pediatric refugee healthcare. A successful network will address barriers and emphasize priorities.