A scoping review of recommendations in the English language on conducting research with trauma-exposed populations since publication of the Belmont report; thematic review of existing recommendations on research with trauma-exposed populations

Experiences of Indigenous peoples living with pelvic health conditions: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Pelvic health conditions significantly impact quality of life and are prevalent in the general population. Urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain are examples of pelvic health conditions. A scoping review was conducted to understand what is currently known about pelvic health conditions experienced by Indigenous populations worldwide. To date, no such review has been reported.

METHODS

A scoping review methodology was used. In February 2024, a search was conducted, capturing both primary and grey literature. An iterative process of abstract and full text screening was conducted by two reviewers before proceeding to data extraction. Inclusion criteria focused on English publications and reports of pelvic health conditions experienced by Indigenous peoples. Data was collected in Google Sheets, and then underwent descriptive statistical analysis. Publications that provided qualitative data were further analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 242 publications were included in the analysis. Several patterns emerged: most publications originated from English-speaking regions, fewer than half of publications specifically recruited Indigenous peoples, women participated in more studies than men, and bladder conditions were most frequently reported. Perceptions of pelvic health conditions and experiences with help seeking and the health care system were described. Notable gaps were a lack of publications and representation of Indigenous peoples from China, Russia, and Nordic countries, minimal representation of gender diverse populations, few publications reporting on auto-immune and bowel conditions, and limited mention of trauma-informed and culturally safe approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights gaps in the current literature around gender representation, bowel and auto-immune conditions, regional representation, and the use of safety frameworks, which may inform future research initiatives. It also summarizes the existing literature, which may inform clinical and health system-level decision making.

Let us be heard: critical analysis and debate of collaborative research approaches used in implementation science research with equity-deserving populations

BACKGROUND

Implementation Science research completed with equity-deserving populations is not well understood or explored. The current opioid epidemic challenges healthcare systems to improve existing practices through implementation of evidence-based interventions. Pregnant persons diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) is an equity-deserving population that continues to experience stigmatization within our healthcare system. Efforts are being made to implement novel approaches to care for this population; however, the implementation research continues to leave the voices of pregnant persons unheard, compounding the existing stigma and marginalization experienced.

METHODS

This debate paper highlights a specific case that explores the implementation of the Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) model of care, a function-based empowerment model used to guide the care for pregnant persons diagnosed with OUD and their infants. We establish our debate within the conceptual discussion of Nguyen and colleagues (2020), and critically analyze the collaborative research approaches, engaged scholarship, Mode 2 research, co-production, participatory research and IKT, within the context of engaging equity-deserving populations in research. We completed a literature search in CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed and Embase using keywords including collaborative research, engagement, equity-deserving, marginalized populations, birthparents, substance use and opioid use disorder with Boolean operators, to support our debate.

DISCUSSION

IKT and Community Based Participatory Action Research (CBPR) were deemed the most aligned approaches within the case, and boast many similarities; however, they are fundamentally distinct. Although CBPR's intentional methods to address social injustices are essential to consider in research with pregnant persons diagnosed with OUD, IKT aligned best within the implementation science inquiry due to its neutral philosophical underpinning and congruent aims in exploring complex implementation science inquiries. A fundamental gap was noted in IKT's intentional considerations to empowerment and equitable engagement of equity-deserving populations in research; therefore, we proposed informing an IKT approach with Edelman's Trauma and Resilience Informed Research Principles and Practice (TRIRPP) Framework.

Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin for Treating Psychological Distress among Survivors of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Evidence on Acceptability and Potential Efficacy of Psilocybin Use

Survivors of adverse childhood experience are at elevated risk for psychological distress. In recent years, renewed interest in psychedelic medicine has highlighted the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for those who have experienced childhood adversity. However, recreational psilocybin use remains illegal and access to approved therapies is difficult. Such use provides an opportunity to explore the therapeutic potential of psilocybin for psychological distress among people with adverse childhood experiences. Therefore, we conducted an online survey to assess interest in, acceptability of, and experiences with psilocybin. We further explored whether the association between Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACEQ) scores and psychological distress was lower among those who had used psilocybin in the past three months. Results showed high levels of interest in and acceptability of psilocybin that did not differ across ACEQ scores. Results also showed that the effect of adverse childhood experiences on psychological distress was lower for people who had recently used psilocybin (p = .019). Taken together, these findings suggest that psilocybin therapy may be potentially acceptable and may feasibly help in supporting survivors of adverse childhood experiences with particularly strong benefits to those with more severe childhood adversity.

Method Matters: Integrating Trauma-Informed Principles into Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Research

Psychiatric and mental health (PMH) nurses integrate the concept of trauma-informed care into practice, policy, and education. Despite the frequency of PMH nurses practicing in a trauma-informed manner, there is a paucity of literature focused on integrating trauma-informed principles into research methods. Professions outside of the nursing sphere, specifically social work and social sciences, predominate the discourse around trauma-informed research. The authors of this manuscript provide detailed methods on a project using trauma-informed qualitative research methods with a feminist perspective. Semi-structured interviews with ten individuals with an experience of sexual violence answered the research question: what is the retrospective experience of women who encountered sexual violence in post-secondary education? An important part of the research design was an informal debrief with the audio recorder off, after the interview. Field notes were taken within this debrief, and participants reviewed these field notes as part of the member-checking process. By explaining the methods used in detail, referencing the available literature, and using the critical reflection of participants captured in the field notes, the authors of this manuscript explore strengths, conflicts, and boundary issues PMH nurses need to consider when integrating trauma-informed research methods into their research practices.

Ethical Considerations in Research With People From Refugee and Asylum Seeker Backgrounds: A Systematic Review of National and International Ethics Guidelines

Refugees and asylum seekers may experience challenges related to pre-arrival experiences, structural disadvantage after migration and during resettlement requiring the need for special protection when participating in research. The aim was to review if and how people with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds have had their need for special protection addressed in national and international research ethics guidelines. A systematic search of grey literature was undertaken. The search yielded 2187 documents of which fourteen met the inclusion criteria. Few guidelines addressed specific ethical considerations for vulnerable groups much less people with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. One guideline explicitly addressed vulnerability for refugees and asylums seekers. To ensure members of ethics committees and researchers consider the potential challenges of conducting research with these groups, guidelines may need to be supplemented with a refugee and asylum seeker specific research ethics framework. Such a framework may be necessary to optimally protect people with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds in research.

The Unexpected Benefits of a Decolonized Knowledge Translation Initiative for Indigenous Mother Participants

Western health research's approach to knowledge translation (KT) has been criticized by Indigenous scholars, leaders, and communities for its misalignment with Indigenous ways of knowing and relational approaches to sharing knowledge. Conversely, Indigenous KT is understood as 'sharing what we know about living a good life' (Kaplan-Myrth & Smylie, 2006). Whereas KT in Euro-Western science contexts focuses on closing the know-do gap implying a separation of knowledge and action, knowledge in the Indigenous context is inherently practical and based on centuries old practices including oral traditions, experiential knowledge, and cross-cultural sharing. This article describes the development of a decolonized KT strategy. This community-engaged KT initiative was developed at the suggestion of Indigenous mothers who participated in a research study in Hamilton, Canada, which examined their experiences using health care to meet the health needs of their infants. Indigenous mothers participated in three main roles related to the KT activities: sharing their story in video, participating as team members on an Advisory Board, and directing the creation of a video series and website educational resource (KT strategy). Five Indigenous mothers participated as members of the Advisory Board. The process of participating had positive impacts on the mothers, namely, empowerment, strength, 'I am not alone', and healing. These unexpected findings, which go beyond the original project purpose to create an educational resource, show the significant and important benefits for research participants, particularly those from Indigenous communities, to be involved in decolonized KT strategies.