Our experience of collaborative research: service users, carers and researchers work together to evaluate an assertive outreach service

Staff and Patient Perceptions of Research in an Integrated Mental Health Service

“…In addition, it is important to provide patient training in research skills, including awareness of ethical issues (Allam et al, 2004). There is an increasing trend of involving patients in the research process and the reporting of results (Griffiths et al, 2004;Oliver, 1995).…”

“…Cumbersome research processes, survey burnout, declining response rates, and selection bias are factors mentioned in the literature as reasons for this (Clifford, Murray, & Kelly, 2002;Jamrozik, 2004;Walter, Cleary, & Rey, 1999;Ward et al, 2004;Warlow, 2004). There is also increasing discourse about research not addressing relevant daily practice issues and not including service users and carers (Allam et al, 2004;Ellis, 2003;Gournay, 2004;Griffiths, Jorm, & Christensen, 2004;Miles, 2003;Trivedi & Wykes, 2002).…”

“…Allam et al (2004) report that patient involvement in research is important to ensure that meaningful and relevant research questions are developed, that study designs are patient-friendly, and to boost patient response rates. It is against this background that our study was developed to determine directly from potential research participants which components of the research process they consider most important.…”

Engaging Service Users and Carers in Health and Social Care Education: Challenges and Opportunities in the Chinese Community

“…For example, service users and carers have been involved in various aspects of social work education such as selection and recruitment of students, development of curricula, teaching and learning activities, preparation for placement learning and student assessment (Levin, 2004). In recent years, an increasing number of educators from health and social care disciplines have been taking a more proactive role in promoting and supporting service users' and carers' participation in various educational activities at different levels (Allam et al, 2004;Anger et al, 2005;Barnes and Carpenter, 2006;Basset et al, 2006;Forrest et al, 2000). However, the representativeness of their participation has caused some concerns and the General Social Care Council (GSCC) (2004) suggests that there is a need to broaden participation of some underrepresented groups.…”

Ethical Dilemmas are not Simply Black and White

“…This approach enabled us to take account of the diversity of all participants not only in terms of ethnicity but also in terms of other life experiences. We were aware of the possible difficulties we were likely to encounter as flexibility often sits uneasily with formal hierarchies such as universities (Allam et al, 2004). However, mindful of the many differences the group would encompass, we were prepared to push boundaries as well as to make compromises where necessary.…”