Research led by Dr Fiona Dangerfield has explored how consumer panels are helping shape public health research.
“Health research is more relevant and useful when it includes the real-life experiences of people and communities,” explains Dr Dangerfield.
Consumer panels are one way to involve people with lived experience in research. However, despite their growing use, little is known about the role they play in improving health research.
To address this, Dr Dangerfield and colleagues conducted an international review and found that consumer panels are being used in a variety of ways across the research cycle.
“While panels can bring valuable lived experience perspectives that improve the quality and relevance of research, there was considerable variation in who participated and how much they were involved,” she says.
“Consumers were often involved at specific points in the research process rather than as ongoing partners. While researchers reported benefits, the longer-term benefits for consumers were less clear.”
Dr Dangerfield says the findings show that consumer panels can strengthen health research.
“When done well, consumer panels can improve research quality, relevance, inclusivity and the translation of findings into policy and practice.”
Dr Dangerfield’s next step will be to explore the impact of rural consumer involvement on research, policy and health service delivery.
“Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that rural lived experience helps drive research that leads to better health outcomes for rural Australians.”
