Implementing consumer health research: empirical results leading to social innovation in New Zealand

Health research is sometimes regarded as fragmented, competitive and highly specialized activity in which groups of researchers within scientific disciplines often work in isolation from other disciplines. Methodological approaches and the value placed on them differ across academic disciplines and their associated professions (Riehl & Roy, 1974; Zemke & Clark, 1996) and across cultures (de Rivero, 2003). Such factors adversely impact teamwork competency within health service organisations, and contribute to the fragmentation of health service experience for consumers. Importantly, there is often little effective communication and consultation between the producers of health research and the end users (Pang et al., 2003 p815). Greater involvement of laypeople in database management teams was recommended following a review of 105 clinical databases in UK (Black, Barker, & Payne, 2004), and an Australian review came to a similar conclusion (Daly, McDonald, & Willis, 1992). Involving consumers in the whole process of research from selection of topics through to report writing is a largely unexplored area. There is considerable scope for collaborative approaches with well-networked consumers, promoting skill and resource development, and creating contexts within which to develop and follow appropriate research practices (Oliver et al., 2004; Waterman, Tillen, Dickson, & Koning, 2001). The contention is that real world science can help inform decisions by stakeholders (Amador & Fitzpatrick, 2003). Consumer perspectives are basic to the design and local development of primary health care and innovative service integration, yet consumer research is underdeveloped in New Zealand.