Evidence Library

Abstract:

This paper reports on a prospective, qualitative exploration of service user involvement in a research study. The aims of the evaluation were agreed beforehand. Interviews were carried out with two service user researchers and three researchers at regular intervals during the study. These involved reflecting on the processes and outcomes of the involvement as the study progressed.

The involvement was found to impact on the study in the following ways:

• influencing decisions about the study design
• improving the clarity of the research documents making them more accessible to a wider audience
• helping with the interpretation of data
• highlighting connections with previous and current research
• helping with dissemination to make the findings more accessible.

The evaluation also highlighted the importance establishing good working relationships to ensure effective involvement. It describes how the researchers and service users learnt from each other and how the impact of the involvement might have been improved by involving service users earlier on.

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Categories: health
public health
social care
Designing research
Undertaking research
Analysing and interpreting
Writing up and disseminating
impact on research
impact on service users involved
impact on researchers
impact of public involvement
reflecting on public involvement in research
journal article

Date Entered: 2012/02/08

Date Edited: 2012/11/20