Social Participation in Community Dwelling Minority Stroke Survivors: Decolonizing Research

Minority stroke survivors experience difficulties in access to rehabilitation due to a combination of systemic factors; lack of understanding of their cultural beliefs by health professionals; their colonial thinking and experiences; and they are underrepresented in social participation research. To address the disparity, this paper discusses how research on social participation of community dwelling minority stroke survivors could embrace decolonization.

Decolonization of research in social participation can be achieved when minority stroke survivors are engaged in genuine trust and co-production of knowledge with social science researchers. Improvements in uptake and continuation of social participation are sustained when such reciprocal relationships take place. There is a need for cultural competence and humility amongst healthcare professionals working in stroke rehabilitation with minority stroke survivors.