Commentary

From inclusion to independence – Training consumers to review research

Carla Saunders^1,2 , Afaf Girgis^1,3 , Phyllis Butow⁴ , Sally Crossing⁵ and Andrew Penman²

¹  School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Wallsend 2287, NSW, Australia

²  The Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo 2011, NSW, Australia

³  Centre for Health Research & Psycho-oncology (CHeRP), The Cancer Council NSW, University of Newcastle & Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle 2287, NSW, Australia

⁴  Medical Psychology Research Unit, University of Sydney, Camperdown 2006, NSW, Australia

⁵  Cancer Voices NSW, Greenwich 2065, NSW, Australia

author email corresponding author email

Health Research Policy and Systems 2008, 6:3doi:10.1186/1478-4505-6-3

Published:	9 March 2008

Abstract

Health and medical research invariably impacts on the lives of everyday people. Organisations in the developed world are increasingly involving the public in health research projects, and research governance structures and processes. The form the involvement takes varies, as does the level of involvement, from individuals, to groups, to the wider community. Lay community members can be trained to independently review health and medical research, and wider societal involvement in funding decisions, can be effectively fostered. The theoretical foundation, design and development of a task based consumer-training program, including a number of enabling factors to support the success of such training are presented. This work is likely to be of value to those planning to train consumers in technical or complex areas.