Setting priorities: is there a role for citizens' juries?

Area of Science:

• Public health policy
• Health services research
• Citizen engagement

Background:

• Meaningful public involvement in community decisions is crucial.
• Healthcare priority setting requires public input.
• The UK piloted its first citizens' jury for health policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of citizens' juries in healthcare priority setting.
• To explore public willingness and ability to engage in health policy debates.
• To evaluate the process of public deliberation on healthcare criteria.

Main Methods:

• A citizens' jury was convened with 16 participants.
• Jurors deliberated over four days, hearing expert evidence.
• The study evaluated the citizens' jury process itself.

Main Results:

• The public is willing and able to contribute to healthcare priority setting.
• Sufficient time and information enable public engagement.
• The citizens' jury process was assessed as a viable method.

Conclusions:

• Citizens' juries are a valuable tool for public involvement in healthcare decisions.
• Public deliberation can inform health priority setting criteria.
• Further exploration of citizen engagement in health policy is warranted.