Consumer involvement in university education programs in the nursing, midwifery, and allied health professions: a systematic scoping review

It takes it out of the textbook: Benefits of and barriers to expert by experience involvement in pre-registration mental health nursing education

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Service user involvement in mental health nursing education is beneficial in terms of attitudinal change to reduce stigma, clinical skill development and enhancing understandings of recovery-oriented practice. Service users as experts by experience have not been embedded within pre-registration nursing programs. Consequently, they remain limited in number, ad hoc and frequently tokenistic. Nurse academics responsible for the design and delivery of pre-registration mental health nursing curricula have a potentially important role in facilitating expert by experience involvement in mental health nursing education.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE

Nurse academics teaching mental health nursing have generally favourable views about the importance of expert by experience involvement. Nurse academics experience significant barriers in supporting the implementation of academic positions for experts by experience, particularly in obtaining funding. The experts by experience could contribute to mental health nursing education does not appear to be clearly understood by nurse academics. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Mental health services aspire to adopt a recovery-oriented approach to practice. Involving experts by experience in mental health nursing education can facilitate increased understanding and appreciation of recovery-oriented practice. Nurse academics could play an important role in supporting the implementation of experts by experience positions in nursing academia. To do so, they require an understanding of the benefits of EBE involvement in academia and the barriers that can be encountered when attempting to facilitate the implementation of such positions. Experts by experience contribute unique expertise, essential to the development of quality mental health services. Conveying this expertise through the educating the future nursing workforce in mental health is essential.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Involving service users in mental health nursing education is ad hoc and minimal, despite growing evidence of its benefits. Insights and experiences of nurse academics teaching mental health to pre-registration students have been underrepresented in the research to date.

AIM

To seek insights and experiences of nurse academics involved in designing and delivering pre-registration mental health nursing education in Australian universities regarding involving service users in mental health nursing education.

METHODS

A descriptive qualitative study involving 19 nurse academics from 13 Australian universities, involved in pre-registration mental health nursing education. Data were analysed thematically.

RESULTS

Participants reported minimal service user involvement. Most sought an increase and identified barriers. Data analysis resulted in five identified themes: (1) value-rich, (2) resource-poor, (3) imperfect processes, (4) 'part, but not all' and (5) unrecognised worth.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing meaningful involvement of service-users in mental health nursing education requires support and investment from multiple stakeholders. Nurse academics are crucial stakeholders in understanding the unique expertise service users bring.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Service users being central to all aspects of mental health services requires their active participation in the education of health professionals. Nurse academics have an important role in realising this goal.

What does consumer and community involvement in health-related education look like? A mixed methods study

Consumer and community involvement (also referred to as patient and public involvement) in health-related curricula involves actively partnering with people with lived experience of health and social care systems. While health professions education has a long history of interaction with patients or consumers, a shift in the way consumer and community engage in health-related education has created novel opportunities for mutual relationships valuing lived experience expertise and shifting traditional education power relations. Drawing on a mixed methods design, we explored consumer and community involvement practices in the design and delivery of health-related education using the capability, opportunity, motivation and behaviour framework (COM-B). In our results, we describe educator capabilities, opportunities and motivations, including identifying barriers and enablers to consumer and community involvement in health-related education. Educators have varying philosophical reasons and approaches for involving consumers and community. There is a focus on augmenting student learning through inclusion of lived and living experience, and on mutual transformative learning through embedding lived experience and co-creating learning. How these philosophical positionings and motivations shape the degree by which educators involve consumers and community members in health-related curricula is important for further understanding these educational partnerships within universities.

A scoping review of patients as partners in undergraduate allied health curriculum: How are they involved?

INTRODUCTION

Patient participation in undergraduate education has been proven to contribute to student skills development complementing their didactic training. An increasing number of educational programs have implemented systematic patient engagement in curriculum to comply with the requirements of professional and regulatory bodies and to ensure greater focus on patient care. This scoping review aims to identify and summarize literature on the integration of patients and associated benefits in undergraduate allied health education programs.

METHODS

This scoping review was conducted using a comprehensive literature search of the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL. The study was carried out and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) guidance for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses. Inclusion criteria included English language and allied health education. Exclusion criteria were outside the date range of 2011 to 2023, non-allied health programs, and clinical exposure during didactic courses. Literature reviews and commentaries were also excluded.

RESULTS

A total of nineteen studies were included in the scoping review. The majority of these papers examined undergraduate programs that engaged patients in curriculum delivery while a few involved patients in feedback delivery and formal assessment. Other forms of patient involvement were through curriculum co-design. Across institutions, evidence suggested the benefits of patient involvement to students, patients, and educational programs for improved delivery of person-centred care.

CONCLUSION

Patient involvement in curriculum delivery and student assessment provided valuable teaching and learning experiences for students and patients. Patient engagement also ensured that person-centered care principles were integrated into education programs. Summary of findings are provided to better prepare patients and facilitators for their role and to enhance the benefits to all participants.

Exploring the concepts of consumer feedback systems for occupational therapy student learning during practice placements: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Consumer contribution to occupational therapy student learning is mandated for Australian educational programs. However, there is limited research about how consumers contribute to student learning during practice placements. A scoping review was completed to explore the concepts of existing feedback systems for consumers to authentically contribute to student learning during practice placements.

METHODS

Five databases were searched for all articles up to and including July 2023. All publications were included if they described and investigated authentic contribution to student learning during a practice placement experience. Data from the results and discussion sections of the papers were transformed into qualitative data and thematically analysed to develop a conceptual understanding of consumer feedback systems.

RESULTS

Forty-six papers met the eligibility criteria. Most articles originated from Medicine (30%) and Nursing (45%) education. Feedback systems were primarily designed to critique student communication and professional behaviours using a variety of standardised and non-standardised methods. Five interconnected themes were created that addressed the concepts of consumer feedback systems. The themes were (1) creating value specific for each stakeholder is essential, (2) preparation is required and nuanced; (3) consumers do engage and provide critical feedback when the system is supportive of all stakeholders; (4) gathering approaches need to be responsive to the diversity of practice and learning; (5) processing feedback with a trusted mentor is critical for learning.

CONCLUSIONS

Consumers, academics, practice educators, and students recognised that consumers have an important role in contributing to student learning during practice placements. Future consumer feedback systems need to be co-produced to create an optimal mode for consumers to authentically contribute to student learning constructively and safely.

CONSUMER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

A consumer consultant was a member of the advisory panel for the larger research project that this review is part of and provided advice to the research team at all stages of the project.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

In Australia, occupational therapy training programs require input from consumers to help students learn. However, there is not much research on how consumers help occupational therapy students during their practical training. We did a review to see how existing feedback systems let consumers genuinely help students during their training. We searched five databases for research up to July 2023. We included research that talked about how consumers help all health students learn during practical training. We found 46 articles, mostly from Medicine and Nursing education. We analysed them to understand how consumer feedback systems work and found five main themes: (1) making sure everyone involved gets value out of it, (2) being prepared is important, (3) consumers give useful feedback when the system supports everyone involved, (4) different approaches are needed because practices and learning vary, and (5) discussing feedback with other people helps students learn. Current feedback systems mostly focused on how students communicate and behave professionally. Consumers, educators, and students all agree that consumers play a vital role in helping students learn during practical training. In the future, we need to work together to make feedback systems that let consumers help students in the best way possible, making sure it is constructive and safe for everyone.

Learning to teach with patients and caregivers: a focused ethnography

BACKGROUND

Little is known about what happens when patients and caregivers are involved in an academic setting as co-teachers and how healthcare professionals approach a new model of partnership-based teaching. This study aimed to explore the learning and behavioural patterns of a group of healthcare professionals who were learning to teach with patients and caregivers as co-teachers in a post-graduate course.

METHODS

A focused ethnographic study involving 11 health professionals was conducted. Data were collected through participatory observation during the course, individual semi-structured interviews, and a follow-up focus group. Taxonomic analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Three categories were identified: 'group', 'role of narration' and 'applying co-teaching with patients and caregivers '. Specifically, heterogeneity, absence of hierarchies, and balanced relationships characterised the group dynamic and promoted partnership. Narration played a key role both in learning and in healthcare professionals' relationship with patients and caregivers and promoted emotional skills and self-awareness. Project planning and lessons simulations were essential aspects of the implementation process.

CONCLUSIONS

This focused ethnography helped further understanding of the context of a specific project involving patients and caregivers as co-teachers in healthcare professional education. The development of emotional skills and self-awareness are the main learning patterns of co-teaching, and interprofessionalism and balanced relationships are the basis of the behavioural patterns. These patterns facilitated the involvement of patients and caregivers in health education.

'We only come from one perspective': Exploring experiences of allies supporting expert by experience leadership in mental health education

INTRODUCTION

Academics from health professional backgrounds have a crucial role in supporting the implementation and sustainability of academic positions for experts by experience in mental health education. Perspectives and experiences of these academics have yet to be extensively explored. A deeper understanding will add to our understanding of this important role and provide guidance for academics with similar aspirations.

AIM

The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of supporting academic positions for experts by experience in mental health education.

METHODS

A qualitative exploratory design was utilised. In-depth interviews were conducted with academics who have actively supported academic positions for experts by experience.

RESULTS

Allyship was a key theme identified. Participants described allyship as complex, time-consuming and rewarding, through three sub-themes: the tension of allyship, the impact of being an ally and interpersonal and relational issues with health professional academics.

CONCLUSIONS

Allyship was influenced by the negative attitudes of many health professional academics, who do not appreciate the value of this work.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Allyship has a crucial role in enhancing experts by experience leadership in the education of health professionals. Understanding the experience of allyship will assist in further understanding and developing these important roles.

Public participation in healthcare students' education: An umbrella review

BACKGROUND

An often-hidden element in healthcare students' education is the pedagogy of public involvement, yet public participation can result in deep learning for students with positive impacts on the public who participate.

OBJECTIVE

This article aimed to synthesize published literature reviews that described the impact of public participation in healthcare students' education.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, ERIC, PsychINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and the PROSPERO register for literature reviews on public participation in healthcare students' education.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Reviews published in the last 10 years were included if they described patient or public participation in healthcare students' education and reported the impacts on students, the public, curricula or healthcare systems.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Data were extracted using a predesigned data extraction form and narratively synthesized.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty reviews met our inclusion criteria reporting on outcomes related to students, the public, curriculum and future professional practice.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our findings raise awareness of the benefits and challenges of public participation in healthcare students' education and may inform future research exploring how public participation can best be utilized in higher education.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

This review was inspired by conversations with public healthcare consumers who saw value in public participation in healthcare students' education. Studies included involved public participants, providing a deeper understanding of the impacts of public participation in healthcare students' education.

The Wisdom of Hindsight: Allies Reflections on Their Role in Supporting the Implementation of Expert by Experience Positions in Academia

Experts by experience involvement in mental health education has consistently demonstrated positive attitudinal outcomes including a greater appreciation for recovery-focused practice. Mental health academic allies have played a crucial role in supporting implementation of expert by experience academic positions. To date the inclusion of their views in research is limited. The aim of this study was to explore and present allies' reflections on their involvement in supporting expert by experience academic roles in relation to "hindsight" and "foresight." A qualitative descriptive design was used, involving in-depth semi-structured interviews with allies who had supported the implementation of academic roles for experts by experience. Participants described the wisdom of hindsight. Based on their own experiences they emphasised the importance of, laying the groundwork, facilitating a supportive environment, contributing to meaningful, credible, and sustainable roles, and vision for the future as key to successful implementation. They also described a vision for the expansion of expert by experience roles in mental health education in the future. Allies' reflections suggest the importance of preparation to facilitate a smooth as possible implementation process and enhance the likelihood of successful outcomes. The transition to recovery-focused mental health services requires the attitudes of health professionals to change. The potential of experts by experience to influence attitudinal change can be enhanced by understanding the experiences and reflections of academic allies.

Stakeholder perspectives on co-designing a post-registration mental health nursing curriculum: A case study

INTRODUCTION

Globally, healthcare regulatory bodies require providers of academic programs to involve service users in the design and delivery of education, yet concrete and tested directions for operationalising this are lacking. Service users' involvement in education is often passive, ad-hoc and tokenistic, with limited input at the program development level.

AIM

To explore the co-design processes and outcomes of a collaborative revision of an Australian post-registration mental health nursing curriculum.

METHOD

Using qualitative case study design, the experiences and collaborative practices of five stakeholders (one mental health service user, two carers and two academics) co-designing a post-registration mental health nursing curriculum were explored.

RESULTS

Commonly identified barriers to meaningful involvement were overcome through planning and collaborative execution of the group's work. Participants reported a strong sense of successful collaboration in reviewing the curriculum, trusting relationships and mutual respect.

DISCUSSION

While it was possible to support and augment stakeholder knowledge in the context of post-registration education, co-design processes were ultimately bound by the university's relatively inflexible bureaucratic context.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

To ensure effective stakeholder collaboration beyond classroom teaching, mental health nurse academics must prepare service users for the role, explaining the language and practices of the tertiary health education and nursing context. As part of co-design processes, organisational mandates must be explored and negotiated, and mutual clarity regarding expectations and roles must be established. A Design Thinking approach can support meaningful engagement of stakeholders in curriculum development.

The patient involvement in nursing education: A mixed-methods systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects patient involvement in nursing education has on students, patients and academic staff using a specific theoretical framework.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods systematic review based on Joanna Briggs Institute methodology (Prospero no. CRD42022327158).

DATA SOURCES

Seven databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Cinahl, PsychINFO, Scopus, ERIC, Embase), Google Scholar and reference lists were searched.

REVIEW METHODS

Qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method studies published from 2012 to 2022 were included. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies for eligibility and quality; any disagreement was discussed with a third reviewer. Data were extracted and analysed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute converged integrated approach.

RESULTS

Twenty-one qualitative, one quantitative and five mixed-methods studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were provided from three points of view: students, patients and academic staff. Student integrated findings included: (i) students' reactions towards patient involvement in education; (ii) students' views on the learning process and (iii) on ethical issue. From the patient point of view, the integrated findings addressed (i) patients' goals and effects on students' learning; (ii) how patients teach and get involved with students; (iii) how patients perceived their role; the patients' views on facilitators (iv) and barriers (v) in education; (vi) the perceived effects of being involved in education. Four integrated findings were derived from the academic staff's point of view: (i) academics' perceptions on patient vulnerability; (ii) perceived barriers to the efficacy of patient involvement in education; (iii) effects of patient involvement in nursing education; and (iv) methodological aspects of patient involvement in university curriculum.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review provides useful information from all stakeholders' perspectives on the effects of patient involvement in nursing education. It offers a broader view of the implications for implementation and for developing theoretical frameworks and hypotheses for future research.

Patient references in the 2005 and 2015 CanMEDS frameworks

Background

Patient involvement in postgraduate medical education (PGME) can help residents improve their communication, professionalism, and collaboration. The CanMEDS Framework defines such competencies for physicians and informs teaching and assessment activities in PGME. However, it is unclear how patients are referenced in the CanMEDS Framework and if these references encourage the active involvement of patients in PGME. To inform how patients are referenced in the revisions of the CanMEDS Framework, scheduled for publication in 2025, our aim was to determine how patients are referenced in each the 2005 and 2015 CanMEDS Frameworks.

Methods

We used document analysis to examine how the term 'patient(s)' is referenced in the 2005 and 2015 CanMEDS Frameworks.

Results

Several 2005 and 2015 CanMEDS Roles include patients in the descriptions but do not reference them in the competencies. Others do not reference patients in the descriptions or competencies, potentially detracting from the importance of involving patients. As it stands, the 2015 Health Advocate is the only Role that describes and references patients working with physicians as partners in care, facilitating potential opportunities for patient involvement in PGME.

Conclusion

There are inconsistencies in how patients are described and referenced as potential partners in PGME throughout past and present CanMEDS Frameworks. Understanding these inconsistencies can inform the revision of CanMEDS that is scheduled for publication in 2025.

Australian occupational therapists' perspectives of consumers authentically contributing to student learning during practice placements: ‘It just makes sense!’ but ‘we need a process’

INTRODUCTION

Collaborating with consumers in designing, delivering, and evaluating curricula is an ongoing initiative within occupational therapy tertiary courses in Australia. Within the Australian educational context, consumers are involved in on-campus educational activities. Student occupational therapists must complete 1000 hours of practice placements as part of their education. To date, no research has explored how consumers could contribute to student occupational therapists' learning during practice placements. This study aimed to explore Australian occupational therapists' perceptions of consumers providing feedback to students during practice placements.

METHODS

A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted to engage with the diversity of practice contexts and gain a rich dataset from the occupational therapy profession. A qualitative questionnaire was developed and distributed using snowballing techniques. The questionnaire asked recipients to reflect on the risks, challenges, and benefits of consumers providing feedback to student occupational therapists from all stakeholders' perspectives. Demographic data were collated, and reflexive thematic analysis was used to construct themes.

FINDINGS

Responses were received from 81 participants. Most respondents identified as experienced occupational therapists from metropolitan locations across Australia. Reflective thematic analysis was used to construct three themes: Personal capability of consumers and students will enable, inhibit, and be developed by engaging in a feedback process; an educator-controlled process to ensure safety for all stakeholders is required for time-poor practice contexts; and us versus them: Shifting control to consumers can disempower practice educators.

CONCLUSION

Engaging with consumers throughout all aspects of student occupational therapists' educational programme is required, including practice placements. New educational initiatives need to consider all stakeholders' concerns to ensure that authentic contribution from consumers is made within the various practice contexts. A co-design approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a feedback process may result in high-quality learning experiences that assist students to become safer, consumer-centred health professionals.

"Making It Happen": Supporting the Implementation of Positions for Experts by Experience in Mental Health Education

Significant changes to mental health policy have positioned consumers of mental health services as active participants in all aspects of service design and delivery, leading to the development and expansion of consumer workforce roles (Experts by Experience [EBE]). Negative attitudes of health professions pose a major limitation to the success of these positions. EBE involvement in mental health education has shown favourable outcomes, particularly enhancing more positive attitudes. Unfortunately, these positions remain limited in number and scope and have largely been supported by individual clinical academic champions (allies). This article presents findings from a qualitative study, involving individual interviews that explored the experiences and perceptions of allies who supported the implementation of academic positions for EBE. Data were analysed thematically. "Making it happen" was the overarching theme identified. It comprised the sub-themes: strategic or opportunistic?; developing an argument; using evidence; showing what EBE bring; getting buy-in and utilising existing relationships. The articulation of these processes provides a useful guide to other allies interested in supporting the implementation of these positions. The implementation of further positions will ultimately improve the attitudes of other health professionals towards Expert by Experience roles.

'What's she doing here?' Overcoming barriers to the implementation of Expert by Experience positions in academia

INTRODUCTION

Experts by Experience involvement in the education of health professionals has gained momentum as an important strategy in ensuring quality, person-centred education. Despite being a requirement for occupational therapy programs in Australia and internationally, involvement is variable and limited. Barriers to the implementation of academic roles have been identified, including negative attitudes of colleagues, systemic barriers, and insufficient evidence of their value. Mental health academics who do not identify as having lived experience (referred to as allies) have provided crucial support for Experts by Experience. Understanding their perspectives on implementation barriers and how they can be addressed is crucial to facilitating a broader level of meaningful involvement.

METHODS

A qualitative exploratory research project was conducted, involving in-depth interviews with mental health academic allies (n = 16) from Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. Participants were from the disciplines of nursing, occupational therapy, social work, and psychiatry. Data were analysed thematically.

FINDINGS

Two main themes were identified from the data analysis process: convincing colleagues and dealing with university barriers. Participants described varying attitudes from colleagues towards Experts by Experience, with many not understanding or appreciating their contribution to education and student outcomes. At the university level, reluctance to embrace innovation and funding and other resource shortages presented impediments to the implementation of Expert by Experience roles. Participants described using creative measures to overcome institutional barriers and encourage greater acceptance of such roles by colleagues.

CONCLUSION

This research describes how allies experienced and overcame barriers they faced when supporting the implementation of academic positions for Experts by Experience. Allies have an important role to play in overcoming systemic barriers, and the approaches they have taken to achieve this may be an important source of learning for others with similar aspirations.

Creating or taking opportunity: Strategies for implementing expert by experience positions in mental health academia

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Experts by experience involvement in the education of health professionals demonstrate positive attitudinal change. Meaningful positions for Experts by Experience are limited and ad hoc, due to attitudinal and other barriers to innovation within the higher education sector. Experiences of allies who have supported the implementation of Expert by Experience positions have not been researched. This is important knowledge that could be utilized by potential allies. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Academic allies to experts by experience have a crucial role to play in identifying opportunities to establish, implement and sustain expert by experience positions. Allies who have successfully implemented positions for experts by experience have identified influential factors including: right person, right role, collaboration and coproduction, support, and career pathways. Understanding these factors can provide an important basis for other academics to support a widespread increase in academic roles for experts by experience in mental health education. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Establishing and maintaining genuine relationships with service users require significant attitudinal change on the part of mental health professionals. Involving experts by experience in mental health education provides an innovative approach to the challenging of attitudes and the enhancement of more collegial relationships with service users as colleagues in the workplace. This paper demonstrates the importance of allyship to the establishment, implementation and sustainability of expert by experience roles, and highlights critical factors allies have utilized in support of such roles. Nurses and other mental health professional academics have the potential to become allies and support change and innovation. ABSTRACT: Introduction Experts by experience in academia have demonstrated more positive student attitudes towards relationships with service users. Notwithstanding this supportive evidence, academic positions for EBE have not grown substantially. Enhanced understanding of positions that have been implemented is important knowledge for others with similar aspirations. Aim To enrich understanding of the role of allies in identifying and pursuing opportunities to support academic positions for experts by experience. Methods Qualitative exploratory approach, involving In-depth interviews with allies with expertise in supporting academic positions for experts by experience. Results Participants were enthusiastic about creating or taking opportunities to secure expert by experience involvement within their programs. Factors facilitating success included right person, right role, collaboration and coproduction, support and career pathways. Conclusions Significant barriers have prevented proliferation of academic roles for experts by experience. Despite barriers, allies have been successful in supporting the implementation and sustaining of positions, and gained considerable expertise, which may be invaluable to academics with similar aspirations. Implications for practice Realization of policy goals regarding service user involvement in mental health services requires health professionals with the will to embrace partnerships. By creating and taking opportunities, allies have developed expertise to facilitate implementation of positions more widely.

Describing consumer involvement, recruitment, retention in Australian occupational therapy university education: A cross sectional survey

Introduction

Consumer involvement in occupational therapy programmes is one of the accreditation requirements of the Occupational Therapy Council in Australia. Consumers are direct recipients of occupational therapy services. Current knowledge about consumer involvement within occupational therapy education is minimal and mostly in mental health. This study identifies the trends for involvement and methods for recruitment and retention of consumers in Australian occupational therapy university education programmes.

Methods

Twenty-one occupational therapy programme directors in Australian universities were directly invited by email to participate in an online questionnaire. Prior to distribution, the questionnaire was piloted and the content validity tested. Analysis of closed-ended questions occurred using frequencies and percentages and content analysis occurred with open-text responses.

Results

Nine programme directors completed the questionnaire. Consumers were mainly involved in delivering lectures, sharing stories and having discussions in small groups. Consumers were recruited to programmes through collaboration with organisations and/or by direct approach. The main retention strategies included employing consumers as university educators and providing support before/during involvement.

Conclusion

Consumer involvement in curricula addresses university programme requirements and aims to prepare students for consumer-focussed practice. The findings inform educators about diverse ways of recruiting, retaining and involving consumers in their programmes.

Exploring a collaborative approach to the involvement of patients, carers and the public in the initial education and training of healthcare professionals: A qualitative study of patient experiences

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore patients' experiences of their involvement in the design and delivery of interprofessional education interventions focussing on mental ill-health for students studying in undergraduate healthcare and healthcare-related programmes.

DESIGN

A qualitative methodology using a Grounded Theory approach was used to undertake an iterative series of focus groups with members of a university's Patient, Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) Group who have a history of mental ill-health and were involved in the development and delivery of educational interventions for students on undergraduate healthcare and healthcare-related programmes. Their experiences of being involved in teaching and learning activities, collaboration with academic staff and integration into the academic faculty were explored. Constant comparative analysis facilitated the identification and prioritisation of salient themes.

RESULTS

Five salient inter-related themes emerged from the data: (1) reduced stigma and normalisation of experience of illness; (2) enhanced self-worth; (3) improved well-being; (4) community and connection; and (5) enduring benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

A supportive university community and a designated academic PCPI co-ordinator facilitate a supportive environment for patients and carers to develop as educators, contribute to the training of future healthcare professionals and improve their own personal well-being. Appropriately resourced and well-supported initiatives to integrate patients, carers and the public into the functions of an academic faculty can result in tangible benefits to individuals and facilitate meaningful and enduring connections between the university and the wider community within which it is situated.

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Patients have been involved in the design of the teaching and learning initiatives that this study was primarily focused on. Patients were given autonomy in determining how their experiences should be incorporated into teaching and learning experiences.