Involving older people in research: methodological issues

Ross, Fiona; Donovan, Sheila; Brearley, Sally; Victor, Christina; Cottee, Mark; Crowther, Peter; Clark, Eileen

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00560.x

Cited by 80 publications

(101 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Involvement of the elders throughout the project has generated interest and commitment among the participants as well as among the public actors. Increased commitment is a finding also reported in other studies of user involvement (Ross et al 2005;Ståhl et al 2008). The participatory observation allowed for first-hand experience with users walking with aids or struggling with constraints, and provided a better understanding of how the environment can be facilitated for them, as highlighted in Ståhl et al (2008).…”

Section: Benefits and Limitations Of The Three-step Mixed-methods Apprsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…User involvement among seniors is perceived by participants as positive, empowering and confidence building Eur J Ageing (2015) 12:249-260 251 (Ross et al 2005;Ståhl et al 2008), which is especially important when establishing a walking strategy-the overarching goal of this project. Planners and health advisors from the municipality and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration contributed in developing the study and were co-collectors of data in the participatory observation (2).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improving walking conditions for older adults. A three-step method investigation

2015

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The benefits of walking are widely recognized. In this regard, the Norwegian government has urged local authorities to develop walking strategies. The aim of such strategies is to influence a local walking culture and framework conditions for pedestrians. Older citizens are an important focus group because what is an accessible environment for them can be attractive for all groups. The primary aim of this study is to improve our understanding of how physical, social and individual factors affect whether older groups perceive that they need, can and want to walk. Second, we show how a mixed-method approach for collecting data gives an important input when planning a walking strategy. Combining quantitative and qualitative data gave deeper insights into how elders perceived their walking environment. The three steps (survey, participatory observation and workshop) made it possible to involve elders and practitioners from the municipality and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration directly in the study. This gave first-hand experience about how to facilitate the environment for older pedestrians. The findings suggest that the need, can and want dimensions of walking interact and reinforce each other. We find that measures affecting more than one such dimension seem to provide the best response for walking activity. This can be important for practitioners to take into consideration when developing good walking areas in the city.

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Section: Benefits and Limitations Of The Three-step Mixed-methods Apprsupporting

confidence: 56%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving walking conditions for older adults. A three-step method investigation

2015

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“…Moving further along the continuum to involve users as research partners implies that elderly people are engaged in data collection, data analyses, etc. In designing the current project, we strived to create authentic opportunities for user involvement achieved within the framework of a research project (Ross et al 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Let’s go for a walk!”: identification and prioritisation of accessibility and safety measures involving elderly people in a residential area

Ståhl¹,

et al. 2008

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By emphasising the involvement of elderly people in a project applying a mixed-method approach, the overriding objective of this study was to identify and prioritise concrete measures aimed at increasing accessibility and safety in the outdoor pedestrian environment within a residential area of a Swedish town. Measures generally given priority were: the separation of pedestrians/cyclists, lower speed limits, better maintenance and specific measures in pedestrian walkways such as wider sidewalks, curb levels and form and more even surfaces on pavements. Definition of these priorities offered knowledge to the highway department concerning the importance of small details in relation to the larger infrastructure. The elderly people in the study district found new ways to communicate with and influence those within the community who are responsible for these matters

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“…Evaluations should also reflect the criteria of good practice in public involvement (most clearly set out on the INVOLVE website 2008), where genuine engagement by researchers is expressed through giving time, respect, access, support, recognition and reward; 1 National Institute for Health Research defines such input as from 'a patient, carer, member of an organisation or group promoting users' interests, possibly a long-term user of services or a member of the public who may be a potential recipient of a health programme' http://www.sdo.nihr.ac.uk/ ppihs1.html, downloaded 16/10/08 and by being responsive to suggestions made by lay participants. The expected gains for research include a more relevant research agenda that reflects patient experiences (Tallon et al, 2000): increased patient advocacy for research (Goodacre, 1999): and improved health literacy around the constraints of research (Ross et al, 2004).…”

Section: Background and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public involvement in health research: a case study of one NHS project over 5 years

Howe

Delaney²,

Romero

et al. 2009

Primary Health Care

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Background: Public involvement, both in the National Health Service (NHS) and in clinical research, is promoted as an important democratic principle. The declared aims are to reduce professional autocracy and allow a broader ownership of the research agenda; also to improve the design of, and recruitment and retention of patients to, clinical studies. There have been a number of national initiatives in the UK to improve public input to clinical research activities, but very few reports of effective and sustainable partnerships over time. This study reports the evaluation of one example, which is embedded in the NHS and university partnerships in the Norfolk area of England. Objectives: Evaluate:> Putting principles into practice of public involvement in research over a 5 year period for one specific project (Patient and Public Involvement in Research).> How the model contributes to, and impacts upon, all stages of the research process. > Attitudes of the research community and lay volunteers to their mutual experiences of public involvement.> Key factors and strengths of this project, and areas for improvement. Methods: A mixed methods approach related to the 5 years from start of 2003 to end of 2007. This used descriptive statistics of volunteer activity, interviews with key stakeholders (13), questionnaires (53% response rate), and focus group with 10 volunteers to explore emergent themes. We analysed findings using a policy framework approach.Results: About 47 of the original 55 volunteers remained on the panel after 5 years. All have undertaken training, 38% have been involved in the full range of research activities offered, and 75% have attended at least one research project meeting. Some are active in governance, ethics, and advisory committees. Both the research community and the volunteers are very positive about the project. The researchers find it provides well prepared personnel, and gives a speedy and efficient way of fulfilling the expectations of funders for lay input. The volunteers find it gives them important opportunities to influence the quality of research and thus support improvements in patient care. Areas for improvement include increasing social diversity among the volunteers, and improving feedback on input from volunteers, without which volunteers tend to lose confidence and motivation. Conclusion: Longterm sustainable and valuable public input to research is possible. Key factors are committing resources, embedding the service in the infrastructure of a research consortium, and ongoing responsiveness by NHS staff and researchers. Additional activity to recruit and support access may be needed to attract people from a broad range of

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Involving older people in research: methodological issues

Cited by 80 publications

References 18 publications

Improving walking conditions for older adults. A three-step method investigation

Improving walking conditions for older adults. A three-step method investigation

“Let’s go for a walk!”: identification and prioritisation of accessibility and safety measures involving elderly people in a residential area

Public involvement in health research: a case study of one NHS project over 5 years

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