Faculty webinar: Designing for dignity: Research practices for sensitive topics: The complex issue of family planning with chronic autoimmune conditions with Zoë Abbott
Conducting research on sensitive issues demands a balance of methodological rigor, ethical sensitivity and emotional intelligence. This webinar uses the example of family planning in the context of chronic, autoimmune conditions to explore the complexities of research that touches deeply on personal identity, values and health. Zoë will examine strategies for designing ethically sound studies, fostering participant trust and handling emotionally sensitive data with care. Drawing from interdisciplinary perspectives, the session aims to highlight these issues for researchers and to equip them with practical tools for navigating sensitivity while maintaining research integrity and impact using examples from Zoë's PhD research.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Recognise the ethical, cultural, and interpersonal dimensions involved in highly personal sensitive topics.
- Apply best practices for participant recruitment, consent, and confidentiality in deeply emotional and often hidden contexts.
- Reflect on researcher influence on study design, engagement, and interpretation.
- Develop communication strategies for responsibly sharing findings with stakeholders and affected communities.
- Integrate reflexive and trauma-informed approaches into research processes and dissemination.
Speaker:
Zoë Abbott is a PhD candidate at the Division of Population Medicine in Cardiff University. She has worked in health research since 2008, following time working as a full time carer. Her research work includes as an NHS research officer in health and social care studies, as a research Network Manager, and as a Trial and Data Manager in Swansea Trials Unit.
Zoë completed her MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice with the Open University, then took up a Health and Care Research Wales funded PhD, researching a topic close to her personal experience, of living with an autoimmune inflammatory arthritis. Her research has also been an opportunity to put her interest in patient involvement, co-production, and Shared Decision Making into practice. Zoë’s work includes Realist methods and co-production. Her keen interests include meaningful patient and public involvement in health and social care and improving access to informed women’s health.