Evidence Library

Abstract:

This paper describes the work of the Service User Research Enterprise (SURE) at the Institute of Psychiatry in London.

• user involvement in research committees and the impact on research priorities at the Institute                                              
• an example of collaboration where user researchers had an impact on the quality of the research and subsequent health policy - the user researchers relied on their experience of receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to improve the assessment of users' satisfaction with the treatment. They showed that previous studies had overestimated the levels of user satisfaction. This research was used by NICE in its appraisal of ECT and the criteria for this treatment are now much more restrictive.
• the model of participatory research used in the research at SURE.

The author also reflects on the experiences of SURE to discuss the issue of power differences between user researchers and professionals and the problems this creates in terms of achieving full 'partnership' in research. She also considers the criticisms of user-focused or collaborative research and the theoretical basis for evaluating different kinds of knowledge - knowledge based on science and knowledge based on experience.

Related entry: none currently available

Categories: health
Identifying topics, prioritising and commissioning
Designing research
Undertaking research
Writing up and disseminating
impact on funding/commissioning
impact on research
impact on implementation and change
impact of public involvement
reflecting on public involvement in research
journal article
Implementation and change

Date Entered: 2007/02/27

Date Edited: 2012/11/20