Chronic kidney disease among Indigenous populations: considerations for effective and ethical research

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a well-documented and growing problem among Indigenous populations in North America and Australia. Further, urgent research is needed to develop appropriate interventions to slow development and progression of CKD and to improve outcomes in Indigenous* communities affected by the burden of kidney disease. For effective research to occur, researchers need to develop and maintain a multifaceted and collaborative approach to working with Indigenous research subjects and their communities. We review two fundamental concepts or paradigms which may cause misinformation or confusion in conducting health research in Indigenous populations. First, we examine systems of health knowledge and discuss the divergences between investigator and Indigenous perspectives, and how they interface in a research context. Secondly, we review the concept of research methods for Indigenous populations, to highlight ways to develop a collaborative and culturally inclusive health research process.