Evidence Library

Abstract:

Aim: To assess the effects of consumer involvement and compare different methods of involvement in developing healthcare policy and research, clinical practice guidelines and patient information material.

Method: Systematic review of published trials and controlled studies assessing methods for involving consumers.

Findings/recommendations: Five randomised controlled trials were included in the review. These showed that involving consumers in the development of patient information materials results in material that is more relevant, readable and understandable to patients, without affecting their anxiety. This material can also improve patients' knowledge.

There is also some evidence (low quality) that using consumer interviewers instead of staff interviewers in satisfaction surveys can have a small influence on survey results.

The authors conclude that there is a huge gap in the evidence from comparative studies about the desirable and adverse effects of consumer involvement. People making decisions about how best to involve consumers may therefore wish to rely on advice based on practical experience and common sense.

What the evidence does suggest is that in future, randomised controlled trials of consumer involvement would be feasible and relevant.

External link: The following links will take you to information on this entry on an external website. INVOLVE is not responsible for the content or the reliability of the external websites. Link to article

Related entry: none currently available

Categories: health
impact on research
impact of public involvement
journal article

Date Entered: 2009/01/28

Date Edited: 2012/11/20