Rural and island health and care in Scotland: a qualitative study of experiences of accessing and providing care
(Part of the BRUCES research programme)
Do you work in healthcare rurally in or around Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Mid Galloway and Wigtown West ward or provide/design care for people living in or around that area?*
*Including Newton Stewart, Creetown, Glenluce and in the Machars (in and around Wigtown, Garlieston, Whithorn, Isle of Whithorn, Port William and Kirkcowan)
Do you provide care for people with cancer, musculoskeletal conditions or frailty?
If so we’d like to hear from you!
People who live in rural areas and islands can receive less or different care from those living in urban areas, resulting in poorer health. Rural and island areas also present a very different experience for healthcare workers.
To improve care, we need to better understand why rural health outcomes are poorer and identify ways to make it fairer. Our research focuses on examples of common long-term health issues (cancer, musculoskeletal conditions and frailty).
We are a team of researchers based at the University of Aberdeen. We are interested in hearing from health and care professionals delivering care to people living in rural and island areas. This will help us set out what ‘good care’ looks like, the specific workforce (recruitment and retention) challenges of delivering care to rural and island communities and what needs to be continued/changed to achieve good care across rural Scotland.
Taking part in the research would involve being interviewed or participating in a small group discussion/focus group (in person or by phone/online) for about an hour.
If you’re interested, please contact researcher Avril Nicoll (mobile 07741 900965, email BRUCES@abdn.ac.uk) to find out more.
Rural and island health and care: qualitative study of experiences IRAS 354007 Flyer professional V1.0 – 1st May 2025