Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

‘We Are Not Just Participants—We Are In Charge’: The Naccho Ear Trial And The Process For Aboriginal Community- Controlled Health Research, Traven Lea, Richard Murray, Margaret Culbong

Aboriginal Policy Research Consortium International (APRCi)

Objective. Methodological criteria that characterise ethically sound community-based studies are often described in overviews but are rarely documented in clinical studies. Research investigating the health of Aboriginal Australians is often small-scale, descriptive and largely driven by non-Indigenous people. The ‘community-controlled’ model of research relating to Aboriginal peoples health is a form of ‘participatory’ research that shifts the balance of control towards those being researched. This paper describes the methodological issues and principles that underpin community-controlled health research; their practical application; and encourages their adoption in research involving Indigenous populations.

Design. Descriptive report of the methods used to conduct the landmark …