Literature Review

A Review of the Literature on User and Carer Involvement in the Training and Education of Health Care Professionals.

This is a report of a systematic review that was carried out by Julie Repper and Jayne Breeze available from the University of Sheffield website. The aim of the review was to describe existing models and approaches to consumer involvement in the education and training of health professionals, discuss the ways in which these have been evaluated and identify areas for further work in both practice and research into consumer involvement. The review identified the following types of involvement:

• Consultation with consumers about the content of training.
• Creating a consumer reference group to advise on curricula.
• Surveying the views of consumers on what should be taught.
• Consumers producing learning materials.
• Consumers as teachers and assessors.

The review also reported that consumer involvement was seen as a positive process with consumers reporting personal benefits although issues relating to training and renumeration were present. Students reported positive benefits to gaining an insight into the experiences of consumers. Teaching staff reported some reservations relating ethical issues, accountability and risks incurred when painful experiences were recounted.

Read the report (this link will open in a new browser window)