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. I am a member of the public who would like to get involved in research. How do I do this?
There are a number of different ways in which people who use services become involved in research.

If you want to be involved in research related to HCAI then you should of course Join SURF. SURF represents an unprecedented opportunity for members to become more involved in the world of research. Joining SURF gives members the opportunity to:

• Help improve HCAI services and treatments

• Share personal knowledge and experiences

• Influence the way HCAI research is planned and conducted

• Develop new skills through specialist training and support

• Improve the way findings are reported and disseminated

• Make a genuine contribution to the HCAI research.

If you are a member of the public and would like to find out more information on becoming a SURF Member click here.

However, if you are interested in research in fields other than HCAI:

• Researchers approach community groups and charities who support and campaign on behalf of particular groups of people. If you have a particular research area you are interested e.g. cancer or mental health, contact relevant national and local organisations to ask them about becoming actively involved in research. Your local library, Council for Voluntary Service or a website such as www.patient.org.uk will help you to identify relevant groups and organisations.
 
• Researchers advertise for people who use services to become involved in their project. Look out for advertisements in newspapers, GP practices, libraries or community centres.

• You could approach researchers. Your local NHS Trust or Primary Care Trust might have a research programme in which you could get involved. Their contact details will be in your local telephone directory, ask if they have a Research and Development (R&D) Manager or lead person for R&D.

• Some GP's and health visitors run research projects of their own, often with the support of a local primary care research organisation. It may be worth making enquiries at your local GP surgery.

Further information on getting involved in research, including questions which may be relevant to ask before getting involved, can be found in INOLVE's new Public Information Pack (PIP) which can be downloaded from their website.

The opportunities for involvement section of INVOLVE's noticeboard and their links page will have contact details of organisations that actively involve members of the public in their research.

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