Why involve the public?
"Research is a core part of the
NHS.
Research enables the NHS to
improve the current and future health of the people it
serves. The NHS will do all it can to ensure that patients,
from every part of England, are made aware of research that is of
particular relevance to them. The NHS is therefore putting in
place procedures to ensure that patients are notified of
opportunities to join in relevant ethically approved research and
will be free to choose whether they wish to do so."
Handbook to the NHS
Constitution,
January
2009
The involvement of the public in research and development is
becoming increasingly recognised as an indicator of the quality of
a research proposal.
For example they can:
- Help to make sure that issues which are important to consumers,
and thus the NHS, are identified. Clinicians may be experts in
their field, but that does not mean they can see all the
perspectives, particularly from the patient's view.
- Help to ensure that money and resources are not wasted on
research that has little relevance to the NHS.
- Help to ensure that research doesn't just measure outcomes that
are identified and considered important by professionals.
- Help to ensure that technologies developed are acceptable to
consumers.
- Help with the recruitment of their peers.
- Enable people who are often marginalised, such as those from
black and minority ethnic communities, to contribute to
research.
- Disseminate the results of research and help to ensure that
changes are implemented.
Useful resources:
INVOLVE website
INVOLVE has produced a Public Information Pack (PIP) which is
made up of four booklets and is for members of the public who are
interested in getting involved in NHS research. The booklets have
been produced by INVOLVE with support and advice from members of
the public to help ensure the kind of information people need when
first getting involved in research is covered. The booklets are
printed in colour with images and can be obtained from INVOLVE by
e-mailing: pip@invo.org.uk or
downloaded from their website:
People in Research
NIHR Patient and Public Awareness
NIHR Central Commissioning
Facility (NIHR CCF) Patient
and public involvement
