Benefits of consumer involvement in research
Benefits for Consumers
- Improve knowledge about their condition
- Learn new skills (research, public speaking, technology)
- Drive research that is relevant and meaningful to them (pick out topics, support plain language summaries)
- Provide personal perspectives
- Empower and encourage consumers to have an active role in their health
- Create opportunities to meet other patients and health professionals
- Build a greater understanding of research
- Improve turning research into better health outcomes
Benefits for Researchers
- Ensures research focuses on issues that are meaningful and relevant to patients and caregivers
- Improves communication and collaboration with consumers
- Improves recruitment and retention in research projects
- Holds researchers to account
- Motivates researchers doing the research
- Identifies likely issues early
- Generates plain language versions
- Increases public support, confidence and share the research widely