Needs-Led Research: A Way of Employing User Involvement in Establishing Research Questions on the Trust Model Within Community Home-Based Health Care Services in Norway

Abstract

Background This article presents a user involvement process in Norway regarding the performance of the trust model within community home-based health care services. The process, referred to as needs-led research (NLR), is inspired by the James Lind Alliance (JLA) and focuses on bringing together service users, next of kin and clinicians, also referred to as stakeholders, on equal terms to explore research priorities in a priority-setting partnership.Method The following five-step process was followed, in which representatives from service users, next of kin and clinicians were involved in every step. Step 1: A meeting organised in the form of a workshop with service users, next of kin and clinicians to discuss and narrow the scope. Step 2: Steering group meeting. Step 3: Online survey to identify uncertainties regarding the scope. Step 4: Data review and interim prioritisation of research questions. Step 5: Online survey prioritising the final top 10 research questions.Results Almost 200 participants contributed during the five steps, 294 submissions were gathered, and 35 participants voted for the top 10 list. ConclusionThis NLR process was experienced as feasible, and the user involvement shows that it is appropriate and necessary to involve service users, next of kin and clinicians in creating research questions that are relevant to the field.