How to undertake research with refugees: lessons learned from a qualitative health research programme in Southern New Zealand

Molly George; Lauralie Richard; Chrystal Jaye; Sarah Derrett; Emma Wyeth; Tim Stokes

doi:10.1071/PY24096

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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How to undertake research with refugees: lessons learned from a qualitative health research programme in Southern New Zealand

Molly George ^A ^* , Lauralie Richard ^B , Chrystal Jaye ^B , Sarah Derrett ^B , Emma Wyeth ^C and Tim Stokes ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Social Anthropology Programme, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.

^B Department of General Practice and Rural Health, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.

^C Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.

^* Correspondence to: molly.george@otago.ac.nz

Australian Journal of Primary Health 30, PY24096 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY24096

Submitted: 3 July 2024 Accepted: 18 November 2024 Published: 6 December 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

Refugee health is an issue of global importance. Refugees have high and complex mental, physical and social needs and poor health outcomes. There is a clear need for more research prioritising refugees’ perspectives of health care in their settlement countries; however, a number of methodological and ethical challenges can make this process difficult.

Methods

This methodological paper is an analysis of our recent experience conducting qualitative research with former refugees in Southern New Zealand. We utilized our research team’s discussions, reflections and fieldnotes and the relevant literature to identify the key processes of our successful engagement with former refugees.

Results

Successful engagement with former refugees in qualitative health research entails: establishing relationships, recognising interpreters as cultural brokers, having a responsive suite of methods and finding meaningful ways to communicate.

Conclusions

This paper offers suggestions and guidance on conducting qualitative health research with former refugees.

Keywords: healthcare perspectives, methodological challenges, New Zealand, qualitative health research, refugees, research with refugees.

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