This ACBRD-led study explored ways to increase research participation for people with type 2 diabetes living in rural Australia
By Dr Jo Jordan
Driving two hours to see a GP. Waiting over 18 months to see a specialist. These are everyday realities for many people living with diabetes in rural Australia.
Research can play a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people living with diabetes in rural areas. Research can increase access to diabetes care, medications and technologies that may otherwise be unavailable.
However, rural communities are often under-represented in diabetes research.
So, what can researchers do to promote diabetes research in rural areas? How can we increase research participation among people with type 2 diabetes living in rural communities? This is the focus of our latest research publication.
In this study we explored the barriers, enablers and motivations of people with type 2 diabetes living in rural Australia to take part in research. We interviewed participants to gain real insights into their experiences and perspectives.
Who took part in the study?
We interviewed 21 adults with type 2 diabetes from rural communities across Australia. They were aged between 41 and 78 years. We spoke to those newly diagnosed with diabetes as well as those who had lived with the condition for over 30 years. Most participants had never taken part in any form of research before.
What stops people from taking part in diabetes research?
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- Diabetes stigma and a lack of awareness: People with T2D may not take part in research because of fear of negative judgements and misunderstanding about T2D in their communities.
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“There’s still also a little bit of a stigma around…it’s like, oh, look what you’ve done to yourself and it’s like a blame, like, I was the cause of this. I noticed for myself, I’m like, gosh, I’m minimising this because I don’t want people to judge me.”
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- Limited research opportunities: There were few research opportunities available in rural areas.
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“There has been very little research done out here, things just tick over as usual…there is this feeling that the people in the bush get left behind…you can’t participate in something that’s not happening.”
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- Practical barriers: Geographical isolation, transport difficulties and limited internet access were key barriers.
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What can help to increase participation?
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- Community Involvement: Working closely with local communities to create trust and recruit participants via local methods.
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“To get the local and regional people, you need to, I suppose, think like the local and regional people and they get their information from the paper or over the radio.”
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- Clear communication of research benefits: Participants want to see how research will benefit their communities. Offering education or access to diabetes care as part of the research process was also identified a supporting participation.
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“You need to grab people…what’s the benefit for the community, or who does it benefit? It has something to say: this is going to change, we want to improve, or we want things to be better.”
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- Making research as accessible as possible: To support participation, researchers need to consider how they can provide greater access. For example, online participation or covering transport costs.
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What motivates people to take part in diabetes research?
Being able to help people living with T2D or raise awareness about the lack of services in rural areas were key motivators. Participants wanted to make sure that rural communities were no longer “forgotten”.
What needs to happen next?
This study supports calls for strong partnerships between researchers and participants. It is essential to involve people with type 2 diabetes in rural communities to make sure research is relevant, accessible, and inclusive. Findings can inform future research practice.
This study was funded by the Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations (ACADI), through the Behavioural Platform, led by Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott. Together, we support equal access to innovative diabetes care, products, and research opportunities for all Australians with diabetes, no matter where they live.
Reference
Jordan J, Manski‐Nankervis JA, Read M, Skinner T, Speight J, Holmes‐Truscott E. ‘The seagull theory: Where people fly in, gather information… fly out and nothing ever comes about’: A qualitative exploration of barriers and enablers to research participation among adults with type 2 diabetes living in Australian rural communities. Diabetic Medicine. 2025 23:e70027.
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