Incorporating the lived experience is fundamental to impactful research, and there are a range of ways that consumers can be involved in and contribute to this research.
This involvement can range from simple informal discussions with researchers before and during research, right through to undertaking a leading role in the research project, in designing what research should take place. Consumers’ contributions can be volunteer roles right through to remunerated roles that can be adjusted during the research to account for availability and requirements of both the consumers and the researchers.
If you are a consumer interested in getting involved or a researcher wanting to engage with consumers, the below free courses and resources are available.
Consumers are people interested in the generation of new knowledge (e.g. the development of new treatments or technology), and have a desire to have input into the way research is developed and carried out.
Consumer representatives, buddies or advisors generally come from two areas:
1. People not usually involved in healthcare (the general public) and representatives could include:
- Anyone in the community with an interest in research
- Individuals directly affected by the diseases/injury and their family (the living experience)
- Community groups
- Fundraisers
2. People with healthcare experience or knowledge of the healthcare system that could include:
- Professionals
- Policymakers
- Insurers
- Health professionals (clinical and allied health)
- Advisory and advocacy groups
If you are interested in joining us as a consumer, this training course provides some general understanding of consumer and community involvement in health and medical research.
Additional information about health and medical research can be found here in parts 2-4.
This training course (Consumer and Community Involvement in Health Research (retprogram.org)) provides information about community participation, involvement and engagement.
In addition, the UQCCR Consumer and Community Involvement Committee facilitates a range of consumer involvement activities for researchers, including workshops, webinars and training opportunities.
The UQ Learn page covers a wide range of questions regarding consumer and community involvement in research, and the below resources provide additional information, guides and toolkits for involving consumers in research.