Why the research is needed
Multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) occurs when an individual has two or more chronic health conditions at the same time. These conditions can either be a combination of two physical conditions or a combination of a physical or mental conditions. Although MLTC is becoming common in adults in the UK, people from ethnic minority populations face more difficulty in terms of management of MLTC. Little is known about the programmes that can be implemented to help with MLTC in ethnic minority populations.
What is already known about the subject
Some programmes have been developed in the UK and other parts of the world to promote self-management or prevention of MLTC. But there has been no review to gather all the evidence on existing programmes targeted at ethnic minority populations, to learn from them.
Who we will be working with
We will be working with researchers at the University of Leicester, researchers at City, University of London, a community engagement officer at the Centre for Ethnic Health Research and public contributors.
How patients and the public are involved
This project builds on a previous NIHR funded Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (SPARC) to the project lead (Dr Deborah Ikhile) from 2023-2024. The SPARC was a cross-ARC award between ARC East Midlands and ARC North Thames, where Deborah worked closely with individuals living with MLTC to understand research priorities and gathered insights from them to inform a search strategy to gather evidence on MLTC interventions.
A graphic illustration was co-produced with the PPIE members to capture and disseminate their insights:
What we will do
For this current project we will:
- Undertake a scoping review of MLTC intervention targeted at ethnic minority populations. The review protocol can be accessed here https://doi.org/10.25392/leicester.data.28409603.v1
- Hold patient and public involvement and engagement sessions with people from ethnic minority population living with or caring for those living with MLTC
- Carry out stakeholder consultations with clinicians, social care providers, ICBs and other MLTC researchers
- Organise a joint workshop to disseminate findings and co-develop framework for a bespoke future intervention.
What the benefits will be
There is currently no known evidence of types of interventions or what works for ethnic minority populations to address the disproportionate burden of MLTC. Firstly, the study will provide timely evidence to identify existing interventions or gaps that need to be addressed to tackle MLTC inequalities. Secondly, this study will provide a platform for people from ethnic minority populations who are living with or caring for someone with MLTC to contribute and shape future research direction in a way that is meaningful to them. Thirdly, the evidence from this study would provide an opportunity to explore ways of contributing to one or more of the national priorities of shifting from hospital to community care, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention. Lastly, this study will co-develop a framework for a culturally appropriate programme (s) with and for ethnic minority populations living with MLTC.
When the findings will be available
The findings from this study will be available from May 2025 to March 2026. Initial findings from the scoping review will be shared and discussed with members of the public and wider stakeholders to gain further insights on what these findings mean to them and whether there is any missing information. This will then be followed by a joint dissemination and co-production workshop where the final study findings will be disseminated and stakeholders will contribute to the co-development of the project’s next steps. A dissemination strategy is in place to ensure the findings are widely disseminated and accessible to various audiences.
How we are planning for implementation
We are planning to engage with system stakeholders and clinicians to ensure alignment of the study findings with national and local health priorities, and identify opportunities to leverage, adapt or scale existing interventions from the review.
Contact
Deborah Ikhile, Research Associate, University of Leicester, Di46@leicester.ac.uk.