Evidence Library
Title: Consumer involvement in research into complementary therapies.
Author: Paterson, C.
Date Published: 2003
Reference: Bristol: MRC Health Services Research Collaboration
Are service users or carers authors: No/Not Known
Abstract:
Aim: To find out about the extent and range of consumer involvement in UK complementary medicine research and explore the perceptions and experiences of researchers and consumers.
Method: The author carried at a literature review and interviewed consumers who had been involved in complementary medicine research and researchers by phone or face-to-face.
Findings/recommendations: Some people thought that consumer involvement was particularly important in the field of complementary medicine research as consumers can be useful and powerful allies for such marginalised disciplines. However consumer involvement in this area is not commonplace.
The benefits of consumer involvement were identified particularly in:
- priority setting and protocol development
- doing the research
- the review and dissemination of results.
Consumers described several ways in which they had benefited from being involved including:
- turning an illness into a positive contribution
- feeling encouraged that something was being done
- new social opportunities.
Negative experiences included:
- frustration at not being able to influence the establishment
- financial or health restrictions
- surprise at the cost of research.
Related entry: none currently available
Categories: health
Identifying topics, prioritising and commissioning
Designing research
Undertaking research
Analysing and interpreting
Writing up and disseminating
impact on research
impact on research ethics
impact on service users involved
nature and extent of public involvement in research
impact of public involvement
report
Date Entered: 2007/02/20
Date Edited: 2012/12/06
Additional Info: