Service users in research and a 'well ordered science'

摘要

Service user involvement in research is little over a decade old. Although there is no body of supporting evidence thus far, it is highly likely that research has much to gain by involving service users. Among the benefits are: increasing relevance of the research (for example, by enriching researchers' understanding of the illness, ensuring the questions being asked are meaningful, improving the design of a study, choosing appropriate outcome measures, and generally preserving a focus on the meanings of the research for those with the illness); better recruitment to studies and better, more open responses from research participants who are more likely to feel their interests are being addressed, and with less likelihood of dropouts; fresh insights in interpreting the results; service user support may assist dissemination and implementation of research findings; and more ethically sound research (for example, by defining acceptable limits of controversial research, and providing better explanations when seeking consent). (Staley & Minogue, 2006).