Public involvement improves research, says new report

Public and patient involvement in research can enhance the quality of research and research outcomes, according to a new report published by INVOLVE.

INVOLVE is funded by NIHR to promote public and patient involvement in research.  The new report: Exploring Impact: public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research looks at the impact of public involvement through an in-depth review of published literature.

It draws together examples of how public involvement is conducted, and how it makes a difference. It also raises questions about the quality of evidence showing the impact of such involvement, revealing huge variations in how this is assessed and reported, highlighting difficulties in judging it or drawing general conclusions.

The full report (116 pages) is available to download on the publications section of the INVOLVE website

http://www.invo.org.uk/Publications.asp
http://www.invo.org.uk/pdfs/Involve_Exploring_Impactfinal28.10.09.pdf

a 16 page summary is also available http://www.invo.org.uk/pdfs/InvolveExploringImpactSummary3.11.09final.pdf

Please contact INVOLVE if you need a paper copy of the report admin@invo.org.uk or telephone 02380 651088

INVOLVE shares knowledge and learning on public involvement in research and provides resources for researchers and research commissioners and funders on how to involve members of the public in research.

For further information on INVOLVE please visit their website www.invo.org.uk