NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey and Sussex has funded a research project to identify the health information needs regarding COVID-19 with the elderly in BAME communities. Growing evidence suggests that ethnic minorities in the UK have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Recent studies have reported that ethnic minorities are more likely to be admitted for critical care admission and are at a greater risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to the people from white ethnic background.
Much of the currently available public health guidance around COVID-19 has been in dominant languages and may not have reached elderly minorities, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Led by Dr Priya Paudyal from Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and working predominantly with Indian and Nepalese elderly communities, researchers will explore the key information and engagement needs of elderly minorities. This will be achieved through in-depth interviews with citizens from these groups, as well as the health and social care professionals working with them.
The end goal of the six-month project is to co-produce and implement a range of public health education and information resources to support these communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are a health or social care professional working with Nepalese or Indian elderly communities in Kent, Surrey or Sussex, and would like to hear more about this study and share your opinions and ideas for health educations resources, then please contact Priya Paudyal (
