The relevance of participatory research in developing nursing research and practice

The need to incorporate the views of patients or service users is at the heart of contemporary healthcare policy. But there is always the risk that researchers and policy makers will merely pay lip service to such an approach or that it will be conducted in a 'top down' manner. Ruth Northway describes how a participative approach can ensure that users are genuinely involved in research into their needs and aims to explore the potential contribution that participatory research can make to nursing, with particular reference to evaluating services. The practical implications that need to be considered by nurses choosing to use participatory methodologies are also explored.