Meaningful consumer engagement in medical radiation sciences: enhancing quality improvement and research projects

Abstract

Consumer engagement and partnership are increasingly recognised as a significant component of healthcare planning, provision, quality improvement and research. This article provides an overview of consumer engagement embedded in two different projects: a quality improvement project and a research project. The considerations and steps taken to effectively engage and partner with consumers throughout both projects will be discussed such as the prompt for consumer engagement, how the consumer/s were recruited and their specific contributions. The commonly reported advantages and challenges as well as reflections on what we might do differently with the benefit of hindsight are presented, including time required by both consumers and health professionals; funding and remuneration; and reporting findings to the wider community. In demonstrating consumer engagement and our learnings, we aim to encourage further consumer engagement activities amongst medical radiation professionals.

Partnering with Consumers – Why would I do it? What is it? How do I do it?

“…The original article published in this issue by Brown et al. 2 describes two separate scenarios where consumer engagement and partnerships have successfully been embedded into a quality improvement project and a research project in the field of Medical Radiation Sciences. 2 This editorial expands on the mandated requirements for partnering with consumers in Australian health contexts and provides recommendations that will set up future projects for success.…”

“…4 There are five levels in the participation spectrum (Inform, Consult, Involve, Collaborate and Empower) with increasing impact on decision making as the involvement of consumers moves along the spectrum. 2 , 4 Several nationally endorsed frameworks in clinical and research fields use this spectrum as the basis for consumer engagement and participation, including the National Framework for Consumer Involvement in Cancer Control, 5 the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Integrated Consumer Engagement in Health and Medical Research – An Australian framework 6 and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Consumers Health Forum of Australia, which in 2016 introduced a Statement on consumer and community involvement in health and medical research . 7 The NHMRC subsequently developed and has published a toolkit for researchers and clinicians with resources to support consumer engagement in research and quality improvement.…”

“…An example of the consult level is the Case Study 1 presented in Brown et al. 2 where the Youth Advisory group and young people undergoing treatment had the opportunity to complete formal surveys. The feedback obtained supported the development of clinical education resources for radiation therapists.…”

“…The feedback obtained supported the development of clinical education resources for radiation therapists. 2 Another example of a consult phase was a study completed by Nixon et al. 11 which explored what people with cancer and their family members defined as wellness, and what supports were needed to support wellness during the cancer experience.…”

“…Collaborate – Consumers and the organisation share ownership and accountability for the process and decisions made. 4 , 5 This requires commitment on behalf of both parties and, as recommended by multiple researchers, 2 , 13 consideration of time, remuneration, and at least two active consumer partners to support each other as peers. 14 An Australian example of a successful research team is demonstrated by Cox et al.…”