Embedding consumer and community involvement within an established research centre: moving from general...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Community Engagement in Research
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Growing recognition of the value of consumer and community involvement in research.
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) provides recommendations, but implementation details are lacking.
• Research institutions are seeking practical methods to integrate consumer voices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a consumer and community involvement framework developed by a Melbourne research center.
• To incorporate NHMRC recommendations into research practices.
• To foster partnerships between consumers, community members, and researchers for musculoskeletal conditions research.

Main Methods:

• Developed a four-tiered model for consumer involvement: Consumer Subscriber, Document Reviewer, Research Buddy, and Consumer Advocate.
• Established a Consumer and Community Advisory Group and a Consumer and Community Liaison Officer for governance.
• Implemented support structures to manage expectations, minimize barriers, and value consumer contributions.

Main Results:

• The framework provides a structured approach for consumer and community involvement in research.
• It aims to ensure consumer contributions are valued and integrated into research outcomes.
• The approach is adaptable for other researchers seeking to implement consumer involvement.

Conclusions:

• Consumer and community involvement is crucial for developing effective, person-centered healthcare.
• The framework facilitates active consumer participation, improving health research relevance and outcomes.
• Valuing consumer perspectives leads to more meaningful research for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions.