325 Music and singing as arts-based methods to build capacity for and migrant involvement in health research: a mixed-methods study

Abstract PTH 8: Miscellaneous 1, B304 (FCSH), September 5, 2025, 11:30 - 12:30 Introduction The World Health Organisation calls for evidence-based policy and practice about the specific health needs of refugees and migrants. Refugees and migrants need to be meaningfully involved as partners in the co-production of that evidence. However, there are challenges that inhibit partnership development e.g., linguistic barriers, mistrust. Culturally attuned methods, such as arts-based methods, support trust-building in intercultural social groups and, thus, may create participatory spaces that facilitate new inter-sectoral research partnerships. Aims Explore inter-sectoral, inter-cultural partnership development for refugee and migrant health research using an arts-based method known as the Irish World Music Cafe. Methods Following the principles of purposeful sample, twenty-five participants from the community (n = 9), health (n = 4) and arts or health academic sectors (n = 12) were recruited for five 2 hour music cafes (four on-line and one in-person). A questionnaire administered at the end of each music café evaluated participants’ enjoyment of the music cafes and their networking opportunities. These data were analysed using frequency analysis and social network analysis to see if health, community or academic sector actors were most central in the participant group. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the cafes ended to complement the quantitative date. These were analysed using inductive, thematic analysis. Results The overall rates of enjoyment of music cafes were very high. Participants from the health sector were most central in the network at the first two music cafes. However, their centrality decreased and migrants from community-based organisations emerged as the more central actors in the network by the end of the fifth music café. Participants described several examples of how specific characteristics of music and singing shaped interactions and partnership building in the music cafes. Conclusions Music cafes as arts-based methods warrant further investigation as methods to optimise inter-sectoral, inter-cultural partnership development for refugee and migrant health research.