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<p>Health research often categorizes “South Asians” as a homogeneous group despite significant linguistic, cultural, religious, socioeconomic, and generational diversity among South Asian immigrant communities in high-income countries. Migration experiences, systemic barriers, and varying levels of language ability further shape healthcare access, health behaviours, and participation in research. Such broad classifications may limit the relevance and responsiveness of health research and policy. This commentary examines how culturally anchored co-design may offer a more nuanced and inclusive approach to health research with South Asian immigrant communities. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature and illustrative examples, we examine how linguistic diversity, culturally embedded illness beliefs, family roles, health literacy, dietary practices, and socioeconomic status influence healthcare experiences. We then use the Health Equity Implementation Framework to illustrate how co-design can be integrated across the research continuum, from study development to dissemination, while attending to structural, organizational, and participant-level factors. Standardized approaches that overlook within-group diversity risk reinforcing inequities and limiting intervention uptake. Culturally anchored co-design, grounded in reciprocity, shared authority, and sustained community partnership, may support the development of linguistically accessible, culturally responsive, and contextually grounded research tools and interventions. Embedding co-design within an implementation framework positions it not as a one-time consultation, but as an ongoing process attentive to equity and system context. Moving beyond broad ethnic classifications toward community-engaged, implementation-informed research approaches may enhance cultural humility, relevance, and equity in healthcare research and delivery for South Asian immigrant communities.</p>

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Recognizing Diversity in Health Care Research: A Call for Co-Designed Approaches in the South Asian Context

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月2日

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  • Navjot Gill-Chawla,
  • George Heckman

摘要

Health research often categorizes “South Asians” as a homogeneous group despite significant linguistic, cultural, religious, socioeconomic, and generational diversity among South Asian immigrant communities in high-income countries. Migration experiences, systemic barriers, and varying levels of language ability further shape healthcare access, health behaviours, and participation in research. Such broad classifications may limit the relevance and responsiveness of health research and policy. This commentary examines how culturally anchored co-design may offer a more nuanced and inclusive approach to health research with South Asian immigrant communities. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature and illustrative examples, we examine how linguistic diversity, culturally embedded illness beliefs, family roles, health literacy, dietary practices, and socioeconomic status influence healthcare experiences. We then use the Health Equity Implementation Framework to illustrate how co-design can be integrated across the research continuum, from study development to dissemination, while attending to structural, organizational, and participant-level factors. Standardized approaches that overlook within-group diversity risk reinforcing inequities and limiting intervention uptake. Culturally anchored co-design, grounded in reciprocity, shared authority, and sustained community partnership, may support the development of linguistically accessible, culturally responsive, and contextually grounded research tools and interventions. Embedding co-design within an implementation framework positions it not as a one-time consultation, but as an ongoing process attentive to equity and system context. Moving beyond broad ethnic classifications toward community-engaged, implementation-informed research approaches may enhance cultural humility, relevance, and equity in healthcare research and delivery for South Asian immigrant communities.