Challenging Conventional Practice: Placing Consumers at the Centre of the Research Enterprise

Abstract

Without evidence, clinicians may inadvertently be providing treatment that is not necessarily best for some consumers. If consumers, carers, and staff have different views about what type of services are best and which treatments are most effective, it is in all our interests to know more about these differences and find common ground. This article provides an overview of factors that require consideration and action for collaborative research to be successful. Actively involving consumers and carers in mental health research may improve the quality of research and has the potential to enhance clinical outcomes. However, a range of challenges must be overcome, which include insufficient training, extra time requirements, stress and non-representativeness, and the impact on research projects, consumers, and researchers. These factors apply equally to carers and, arguably, staff. With sufficient motivation, commitment, and funds for the requisite time, all of these disadvantages could be overcome or at least minimized.

Recovery and the Role of Humility: Insights from a Case Study Analysis

“…This situation has led to allegations of tokenism by a number of commentators in relation to consumer and carer participation or involvement (e.g., Cleary, Freeman, & Walter, 2006;Cleary, Walter, & Escott, 2006;Happell & Roper, 2007;Horsfall, Cleary, Walter, & Malins, 2007). While governments have directed health service organizations to include consumers and carers in the planning, implementation, and ongoing delivery of mental health services, too often this involvement is superficial rather than meaningful-for example, with consumers advised after a decision had been made and given little room to disagree Glover, 2005).…”

Demystifying Research and Evidence-Based Practice for Consumers and Carers: Development and Evaluation of an Educational Package

“…This topic is, however, attracting increasing attention (Goodare & Lockwood, 1999;Horsfall et al, 2007;Rose, 2003;Telford & Faulkner, 2004;Wykes, 2003). The reluctance of many consumers and carers to participate in research, elicited in a variety of studies (e.g.…”

Turning Mental Health Nursing Problems into Quality or Research Projects

“…These are noted to be critical to the shaping of any good study (Agee, 2009), particularly in mental health (Oestrich, Austin, & Tarrier, 2007). We have also excluded common challenges in research such as funding, expert consultants, and building a team as these are comprehensively addressed elsewhere in the literature and are beyond the scope of this paper (e.g., see, Davies & Dodd, 2002;Dickson-Swift, James, Kippen, & Liamputtong, 2007;Easton, McComish, & Greenberg, 2000;Horsfall, Cleary, Walter, & Malins, 2007;Polit & Beck, 2010).…”