Module 1
Introduction
Values and Principles of Consumer and Community Involvement
Consumers and community members can add meaningful value to all phases of research and healthcare improvement projects. This includes assisting with translation of the research findings or project outcomes into better patient care.
INVOLVE, the UK's national advisory group, has developed a framework that identifies six values and principles underlying good practice for public involvement in research.
INVOLVE – values and principles framework
| Values | Summary Principles |
|---|---|
| Respect | Researchers, research organisations and the public respect one another's roles and perspectives |
| Support | Researchers, research organisations and the public have access to practical and organisational support to involve and be involved |
| Transparency | Researchers, research organisations and the public are clear and open about the aims and scope of involvement in the research |
| Responsiveness | Researchers and research organisations actively respond to the input of public members involved in research |
| Fairness of opportunity | Researchers and research organisations ensure that public involvement in research is open to individuals and communities without discrimination |
| Accountability | Researchers, research organisations and the public are accountable for their involvement in research and to people affected by the research |
The resource below is a review of the literature, conducted by INVOLVE, on the principles and standards for public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research in the UK.
In the following video, Susan Biggar, highlights the importance of respect and partnership.
The Victorian Government’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released the ‘Client voice framework for community services’ in December 2019. While developed as a resource for community services, the document contains a wealth of useful information for consumer and community involvement in research and healthcare improvement projects.
The framework is built around five key principles which are accompanied by prompts to help put them into practice at the individual, organisation and systems levels and key questions and tips from clients.
The five key principles of the client (consumer) voice’s framework are:
- The consumer voice is essential for quality and safety
- Consumers have expertise
- The consumer voice is part of everyone’s role
- There are many consumer voices
- The consumer voice leads to action.
Victorian Government, Department of Health and Human Services (2019), Client voice framework for community services