Consumers welcome an important step
CHESM develops comprehensive approach for consumer involvement in research
In the past year, the Centre for Health Exercise and Sports Medicine (CHESM), within the Physiotherapy Department has been busy improving their processes for how consumers can contribute to their research activities. Specifically, the team has developed a 'Consumer and Community Involvement Strategy' aligned with NHMRC recommendations for consumer involvement in research. The work was led by a Consumer Involvement Action group, consisting of CHESM Early Career Researchers (Dr Rachel Nelligan [chair]; Dr Belinda Lawford; Mr Travis Haber) and two people with osteoarthritis (Mr Neil Bidgood; Mrs Jennie Marlow). The Action Group is also overseeing the strategy’s ongoing implementation.
The development of this strategy involved a collaborative and iterative process, which has been documented in a peer-reviewed publication (https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1806). Notably, consumers with osteoarthritis actively contributed to the strategy’s development, alongside valuable input from various stakeholders, including all CHESM staff and students, as well as the CHESM Advisory Board. This strategy encompasses a policy document with strategic aims and an implementation plan, providing clear guidance on the various ways consumers can participate in CHESM research activities, ranging from being informed about research to actively participating or even leading research endeavours.
The strategy, along with its associated documents and resources, is publicly accessible on the CHESM webpage, with two CHESM studies already adopting these new processes and more planned for the future. Dr. Nelligan, the chair of the Consumer Involvement Action Group, has also been invited to present this work to various external research organisations at both national and international levels, highlighting its importance. One of the consumers involved in the strategy's development aptly summaries it as "an important step and a respectful approach" that holds the promise of aligning CHESM research with the needs of consumers and the broader community.
