Evidence Library

Abstract: Aim: To review current practice to examine the factors that influence whether an activity like service user involvement becomes routine. Methods: A review of the literature identified a sample of 26 articles describing service user involvement in primary care research and health service development. Findings: The factors that influence whether an activity becomes routine include: - how it is defined and whether there is a shared understanding of this definition - why people get involved - how the activity is carried out - how the activity is appraised. The literature review identified problems within all these areas. Firstly, few studies provided a definition of involvement. Policy imperatives were given as the main reason for involvement, without understanding individual motivations. The methods used were often standard research methods (e.g. surveys to obtain patient opinion) and therefore not genuine involvement, and finally the reports mostly focused on positive outcomes. Conclusions: The reporting of service user involvement initiatives needs to be improved to enhance our understanding of what will help this approach to become a standard way of working.

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Categories: health
public health
nature and extent of public involvement in research
reflecting on public involvement in research
journal article

Date Entered: 2014/08/20

Date Edited: 2014/08/20