Table 1 Characteristics of the 23 included studies

Hamrosi Bpharm et al. (2014)

To explore needs and expectations regarding written information of medicines, and to determine related barriers and facilitators

People who had taken at least one medicine prescription in the last 12 months, aged 21–80; New South Wales, Australia

priority community, researchers

focus groups

X

O’Brien et al. (2011)

To explore the concept of elder abuse by engaging with older people living in the community

Older adults, aged 65–89;

Ireland and Northern Ireland

older adults, practitioner, community worker, researchers

focus groups

X

Punnaraj et al. (2010)

To develop a community health care model for providing care to older adults

Older adults, aged 60+;

Northeast Thailand

older adults, family members, community leaders, nurses, health care volunteers, local government officials, researchers

interviews, participatory observations, focus groups

X

X

Sanders et al. (2006)

To develop and evaluate an education programme to help older people find out about treatment and care choices at the end of life

Older adults;Sheffield, UK

voluntary community advisors representing older adults, community members, researchers

workshops

X

Valokivi (2004)

To explore citizenship in the local health care and social service system

Older adults who received care, aged 80–94;

rural middle sized municipality in Finland

older adults, informal caregivers(relatives), researcher

semi-structured interviews

X

Ward (2014)

To explore how older people learn to sustain their own and others’ well-being

Older adults, aged 60–97; UK

older adults, voluntary sector manager, researchers

interviews, focus groups

X

Adili et al. (2013)

To explore the ways in which women learned to live with type 2 diabetes

Women with diabetes, aged 55–82;

Newcastle, Australia

older women, family members, researcher

Interviews, informal conversations, discussion groups

X

X

Espenschied et al. (2012)

To explore the needs for post genetic-cancer-risk-assessment of patients with increased risk for breast and/or ovarian cancer

Women with increased cancer risk, aged 26–74;

Hope, USA

older women, family members, professionals, field experts, clinical researchers

Interactive conference

X

X

Evans et al. (2007)

To identify key messages about pre-diabetes, and to develop an educational toolkit to address the information needs of patients and health care professionals

Patients with (pre-) diabetes, aged 48–79, and health professionals;

urban and rural areas in UK

(pre-) diabetes patients, health professionals, diabetes experts, researchers

focus groups, interviews, videotaped consultations

X

X

Andrews et al. (2007)

To develop a culturally sensitive smoking cessation intervention with public housing neighborhoods

African American residents of public housing neighborhoods; Augusta-Richmond county, Georgia, USA

neighborhood residents, community health workers, community advisory board, researchers

neighborhood surveys, focus groups, interviews

X

Balbale et al. (2014)

To develop culturally tailored health messages by using visual and participatory action techniques

Mexican females, aged 65+;

Chicago, USA

Mexican older women, researchers

photo-elicitation, in-depth interviews, focus groups

X

X

Boise et al. (2013)

To explore perceptions regarding health needs and barriers to health care

African immigrants and refugees, aged 14–67;

Portland, USA

African immigrants and refugees, family members, service providers, researchers

informal conversations, community meeting, house meetings

X

Collier et al. (2012)

To identify mental health needs and ideal service delivery systems of/for a Hmong community

Laos Hmong community, aged 18–70;

Eau Claire, USA

Hmong community members, Hmong professionals, community service providers, researchers

focus groups, key informant interviews

X

Cusack et al. (2013)

To explore knowledge, use and experiences of over-the-counter analgesics

Aboriginal community, aged 20–80;

north-west Adelaide, Australia

Aboriginal community, Aboriginal Elder, researchers

focus groups, interviews

X

X

Holkup et al. (2007)

To prevent elder abuse by an elder focused, family centered, community-based conference

Native American older adults;

northwestern community in USA

older adults, family members, community members, spiritual leader, health and social service providers, researchers

Family Care Conference

X

Petrucka et al. (2007)

To explore capacity building and cultural competency in health professional education and health-care delivery

Two Saskatchewan Aboriginal communities;

southern Saskatchewan, Canada

community members, Aboriginal Elders, researchers

hearing circles

X

Zanjani and Rowles (2012)

To increase knowledge on mental health and aging, and to explore culturally appropriateness of interventions on mental health-related topics

Older adults, aged 65+; rural Appalachian-Kentucky, USA

community members, professional community liaisons, researchers

focus groups

X

X

Braun et al. (2002)

To examine cancer experiences, including the impact of fatalistic attitudes, access to healthcare, and culturally linked values

Native Hawaiians who survived cancer, aged 36–86;

Hawai, USA

cancer patients, native Hawaiian social worker, native Hawaiian co-investigator, native Hawaiian clinicians, researchers

focus groups

X

Carlson et al. (2006)

To explore how communities use and value the internet and libraries for health information

African Americans with and without diabetes, aged 60+; Charleston and Georgetown counties, USA

community members, faith community, public librarians, diabetes advocacy group, rural community center staff, information technology community members

survey, focus groups

X

X

Eggly et al. (2013)

To develop a communication tool to address racial disparities in cancer care

Black African-American cancer patients, aged 40+;

southeast Michigan, USA

cancer patients, community advisory committee, representatives of community health organizations, oncologists, researchers

semi-structured interviews

X

X

Grigg-Saito et al. (2008)

To eliminate health disparities in cardiovascular disease and diabetes by increasing knowledge, access to health care and awareness of health care beliefs

Cambodian older adult refugees, aged 50+; Lowell, USA

Cambodian community, community leaders and elders, health providers, human services staff, government agency staff, researchers

surveys, focus groups

X

Kieffer et al. (2004)

To reduce disparities in diabetes by reducing the prevalence and impact of diabetes and its risk factors

African-American and Latino community members, aged 8–76;

eastside and southwest Detroit, USA

community members, family members, community-based organizations staff, policy makers, health system developers, community health center staff, researchers

focus groups

X

X

Pierre-Louis et al. (2011)

To understand experiences of people with diabetes and to envision new patterns of health

African American women with diabetes, aged 35–68; urban community, USA

African American women with diabetes, nursing students, researcher

Interviews

X