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Frequently Asked Questions
Below are listed some of the questions frequently
asked by researchers and members of the public who
are interested in service user involvement in
research.
Click on each section below to expand and view answers.
1. Why should I involve people who use
services in research and development?
There are many reasons for involving people who use
services in in R&D. We outline some of them below.
You can find more information about why it is
important to involve the public in INVOLVE's
publication
Involving the public in NHS, public health and
social care research: Briefing Notes for Researchers.
Being clear about why you want to involve people who
use services will help you to identify who it is
appropriate to involve and how best to involve them.
People who use services will be able to offer
different perspectives. You may be an expert in your
field, but that does not mean to say you can see all
the perspectives on what occurs in the area of your
research interest
People who use services can help to ensure that
issues that are identified and prioritised are
important to them and therefore to health care,
public health and social care services as a whole.
Public involvement can help to ensure that money and
resources arent wasted on research that has little
or no relevance.
People who use services can help to ensure that
research doesnt just measure outcomes that are
identified and considered important by
professionals.
People who use services can help with the
recruitment of their peers for research projects.
People who use services can help access people who
are often marginalised, such as people from black
and minority ethnic communities.
People who use services can help to disseminate the
results of research and work to ensure that changes
are implemented.
Involvement in research, done well, can help empower
people who use services.
The involvement of consumers is also becoming an
increasing political priority.
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2. Why do members of the public choose to get
involved in R&D?
People who use services may have a number of reasons
for wanting to get involved in R&D:
to improve treatment services for themselves and
those who come after them
for many people research may be a means to an end
and they are likely to want to know what will happen
as a result of research
to identify problems related to the treatment or
service they are offered
to influence the research agenda in a way that makes
research more effective
to identify gaps in knowledge related to specific
treatments or conditions which they feel need
research
to ensure that the issues which are a priority for
people are addressed
to ensure that future R&D is relevant to the needs
of a specific group of people
to identify existing research which is not being
disseminated or implemented, which could improve
treatments or services
to ensure that R&D is undertaken in an ethical way
When you seek to involve the public in a research
project, it is important to understand their reasons
for wanting to become involved, as well as
explaining your reasons for wanting to involve them.
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